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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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
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
The humbling end to a mercifully brief career should be a warning to anyone else who might try to get elected by brazenly flouting the disclosure laws.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
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
That era started with a humbling 4-1 loss to Lyon in the 2019 final in Budapest.
—ABC News, 23 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
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
The humbling end to a mercifully brief career should be a warning to anyone else who might try to get elected by brazenly flouting the disclosure laws.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
That era started with a humbling 4-1 loss to Lyon in the 2019 final in Budapest.
—ABC News, 23 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.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
-
Still, a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde was a humiliating and hugely disappointing result for the Euro 2024 champions.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Why does humiliation travel so quickly?—
Adam Howard,
Time,
10 June 2026
-
Teenagers today are consuming endless streams of violent content, ideological rage, conspiracy theories, humiliation culture and social isolation through digital platforms that reward outrage and emotional instability.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
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.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
-
If the Knicks had that happen to them, everyone would be discrediting them.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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.—
Emily Hoerner,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
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.—
Selina Wang,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Your historical victory is your reward for your historical abasement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
No one should be subject to listening to the most degrading and profane words that now seem popular with some people.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
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.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years.—
Gabriela Sa Pessoa,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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