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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in humiliating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in humiliation
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humbling
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
It's been a very humbling experience, but also a fight for my life experience.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
What's your last humbling and or hilarious moment?
—Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2025
This can be a humbling business.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
The Gloucester field hockey team came into the year with lofty ambitions after a strong summer, only to open its schedule with a humbling loss at home.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Withers calls it a humbling experience.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing more humbling than hearing your own voice recorded on a mic that just isn’t up to the job.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Heck of a bounce-back from Mustangs after opening-week humbling at Palmer Ridge.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Learning anything new as an adult is humbling.
—Sarah Stockdale, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
So in this more cosmic sense, anyway, the Chiefs on Sunday hardly must beat visiting Philadelphia in a rematch of the humbling 40-22 TKO the Eagles administered in Super Bowl LIX.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
To be recognized by an institution whose graduates have shaped our country’s history through selfless service is both humbling and meaningful.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
All of the footage of Powell playing football as Chad or Russ, went straight to Eli for his feedback, which was humbling, to say the least.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
Representing India in a section that celebrates bold new voices is both humbling and encouraging.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This doesn't sound like humbling or hilarious at all.
—Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2025
Kuang sees possibility instead, as though academia is meant to be constantly humbling.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
So, that was a good learning experience and a humbling experience of being on the outside and trying to weasel my way in.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
It's been a very humbling experience, but also a fight for my life experience.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
What's your last humbling and or hilarious moment?
—Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2025
This can be a humbling business.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
The Gloucester field hockey team came into the year with lofty ambitions after a strong summer, only to open its schedule with a humbling loss at home.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Withers calls it a humbling experience.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing more humbling than hearing your own voice recorded on a mic that just isn’t up to the job.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Heck of a bounce-back from Mustangs after opening-week humbling at Palmer Ridge.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Watching a mother turtle haul herself ashore under a canopy of stars to lay her eggs is a truly primal and humbling sight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Learning anything new as an adult is humbling.
—Sarah Stockdale, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
So in this more cosmic sense, anyway, the Chiefs on Sunday hardly must beat visiting Philadelphia in a rematch of the humbling 40-22 TKO the Eagles administered in Super Bowl LIX.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
To be recognized by an institution whose graduates have shaped our country’s history through selfless service is both humbling and meaningful.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
All of the footage of Powell playing football as Chad or Russ, went straight to Eli for his feedback, which was humbling, to say the least.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
Representing India in a section that celebrates bold new voices is both humbling and encouraging.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This doesn't sound like humbling or hilarious at all.
—Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2025
Kuang sees possibility instead, as though academia is meant to be constantly humbling.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbling
Verb
-
This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For decades, Indigenous leaders and advocates across the state and country have been trying to convince school communities that the use of such mascots and logos are inappropriate, demeaning and harmful.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
One detainee who submitted an account to the court that was referenced by Gregorio described sleeping in foul-smelling facilities and facing demeaning treatment by ICE agents.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Their reward for surviving the first week of class would be a front-row seat to another likely humiliation.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
But the most bitter had to be crooner Eddie Fisher, her fourth husband, who suffered the public humiliation of leaving his wife Debbie Reynolds for her (as well as their daughter Carrie), then getting dumped for Burton.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There would be accusations of race manipulation, an online mob discrediting Wallace’s win as undeserved, and an angry Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which would now realize Hamlin puts another team’s interests ahead of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Further discrediting itself, Thursday’s writeup includes a marketing pitch for the SquareX platform.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Charles Rolsky, executive director and senior research scientist at the Shaw Institute, a nonprofit focusing on the links between environmental and human health, says that many studies, including his own, suggest PVA can pass through wastewater treatment without completely degrading.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The mission emphasized that detaining adolescents under such conditions amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That behavior is embarrassing anywhere, and goes against all of golf etiquette.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
-
That wasn't Carey's first time embarrassing her children.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The mortifying moment comes at a time when international tourism continues to rebound strongly despite global uncertainty.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
What feels energizing to one person can feel mortifying to another.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This plug design prevents the palladium from shrinking or clumping at high heat—the degradation that limits conventional films.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Though the ancient species once soared over most of the continent, by the mid-20th century, the population of condors had dramatically declined due to habitat degradation, lead poisoning, shooting and the use of DDT pesticide.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share