as in humiliating
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as in humiliation
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as in discrediting
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
Philip was utterly humbled by a crushing defeat in the first round of the state chess tournament
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humbling
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Kellis Robinett,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
Indeed, it’s been 60 years since England won the 1966 World Cup on their home soil, a humbling reality for the country credited with inventing soccer and that boasts the sport’s most prestigious professional league.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
The movie Spielberg has made is simultaneously grand and humbling.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
9 June 2026
These are the humbling words of American defender Miles Robinson, who is set to feature in his first World Cup this summer.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
If these reports are accurate, this is a pretty humbling defeat of America’s goals in the war with Iran that started on February 28.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Coming off of the strike, and what that meant for so many people getting back to work, and then being able to go back to work on that type of set was such a privilege and very humbling.
—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
The Nuggets were at a loss for sweeping conclusions in the aftermath of a humbling Game 6.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Maybe a little humbling is good for Pavia.
—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 June 2026
Still, Griffin found the moment humbling.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Luis Enrique then led the nation to the Euro 2020 semi-finals, losing on penalties again to Italy, but World Cup 2022 brought another humbling last-16 defeat by Morocco — settled once more by a shootout.
—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
San Antonio has suffered a series of humbling tragicomedies, each more painful than the last.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 June 2026
Speaking to the media after earning the victory, Hatton got candid about how his young daughter has given him a new perspective and motivation to perform at his best in what was a very cool, humbling moment.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Brad Stevens admitted last month, after the Celtics followed up an excellent regular season with a humbling first-round loss to Philadelphia, that Boston did not have the talent to compete with the NBA’s true championship contenders.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Tavarez, the Monarchs’ coach, was living in Hawaii during Monte Vista’s humbling 2025 season.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
The achievement was both an honor and humbling for him, Lehman said.
—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
Being on an island starving is very humbling.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Instead, Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room made an incredible 15 saves and Ecuador walked away with a humbling result against an opponent it was heavily favored to beat.
—
Kellis Robinett,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
Indeed, it’s been 60 years since England won the 1966 World Cup on their home soil, a humbling reality for the country credited with inventing soccer and that boasts the sport’s most prestigious professional league.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
The movie Spielberg has made is simultaneously grand and humbling.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
9 June 2026
These are the humbling words of American defender Miles Robinson, who is set to feature in his first World Cup this summer.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
If these reports are accurate, this is a pretty humbling defeat of America’s goals in the war with Iran that started on February 28.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Coming off of the strike, and what that meant for so many people getting back to work, and then being able to go back to work on that type of set was such a privilege and very humbling.
—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
The Nuggets were at a loss for sweeping conclusions in the aftermath of a humbling Game 6.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Maybe a little humbling is good for Pavia.
—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
What a fantastic and humbling time to be alive.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 June 2026
Still, Griffin found the moment humbling.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Luis Enrique then led the nation to the Euro 2020 semi-finals, losing on penalties again to Italy, but World Cup 2022 brought another humbling last-16 defeat by Morocco — settled once more by a shootout.
—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
San Antonio has suffered a series of humbling tragicomedies, each more painful than the last.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 June 2026
Speaking to the media after earning the victory, Hatton got candid about how his young daughter has given him a new perspective and motivation to perform at his best in what was a very cool, humbling moment.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Brad Stevens admitted last month, after the Celtics followed up an excellent regular season with a humbling first-round loss to Philadelphia, that Boston did not have the talent to compete with the NBA’s true championship contenders.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Tavarez, the Monarchs’ coach, was living in Hawaii during Monte Vista’s humbling 2025 season.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
The achievement was both an honor and humbling for him, Lehman said.
—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbling
Adjective
-
The existence of an understanding, with humiliating terms for America, is a heap of symbolic and emotional capital that no Iranian regime has enjoyed since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
-
Still, a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde was a humiliating and hugely disappointing result for the Euro 2024 champions.
Noun
-
In 1933, the year Hitler consolidated power, Schmeling suffered public humiliation at the hands of Max Baer, a boxer from the American heartland whose father was Jewish.
-
The complaint states that Lowe has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, lost income and medical expenses.
Verb
-
Defense attorney Tom Mesereau was an expert at discrediting witnesses, subjects told the filmmakers, but certain key witnesses, like Janet Arvizo, struggled to connect with the jury on their own.
-
If the Knicks had that happen to them, everyone would be discrediting them.
Adjective
-
Some women who filed lawsuits against Ortega reported they had been confused about whether demeaning or uncomfortable actions the doctor engaged in during exams was within the bounds of necessary medical behavior.
-
Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening.
Noun
-
Your historical victory is your reward for your historical abasement.
Verb
-
The moms aren’t embarrassing their kids.
-
Several other policy changes led to blowback from the public and Starmer was forced to make a series of embarrassing U-turns that provided political capital for opponents and fed beliefs that the prime minister didn’t stand for much.
Adjective
-
No one should be subject to listening to the most degrading and profane words that now seem popular with some people.
-
According to the company, the electronic attack variant is intended to provide non-kinetic effects on the battlefield by disrupting and degrading enemy sensors and reconnaissance networks.
Noun
-
The building had long-term degradation from corrosion, too.
-
Researchers worldwide continue to struggle with issues such as low ionic conductivity, interface degradation, manufacturing complexity, and cost.
Cite this Entry
“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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