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
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
In fact, every team to win the Cup has struggled immediately out of the gate, perhaps in large part due to the emotional high of winning a largely meaningless title, only to return to the humbling reality that the games are still coming 100 miles an hour.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Reading him this season can be a humbling reminder of our finitude.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
So, all of this response has left me in a very humbling position.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2025
The only tie in which they were evidently outclassed was the 5-1 humbling by Benfica, who scored three times inside 20 second-half minutes and could have had more.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite the humbling rejection, the mom of two could see the funny side.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Old Dominion front man Matthew Ramsey called the day a humbling experience.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
Johnson has previously opened up about the humbling start to her acting career.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The whole ordeal was humbling and perspective-giving, and leaves me feeling a lot of things.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
My own experiences cross country skiing have been humbling, maybe even humiliating.
—Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
There were also some humbling defeats, including when Maresca made the faux pas of saying going out of the FA Cup to Brighton could turn out to be a positive.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
This semester has been humbling, though.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Or maybe the latest trade war was unexpectedly humbling for America – shifting how the White House views Beijing.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Miami has lost two of its last three outings, including a humbling 26-20 defeat in overtime to SMU in Week 10.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Nine hours after addressing reporters in the wake of a humbling 28-6 loss to Baltimore, Mike McDaniel was at it again on Friday, speaking to Dolphins reporters via Zoom in the normal day-after-game media availability that’s required for all NFL head coaches.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
What's your last humbling and or hilarious moment outside?
—Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
In fact, every team to win the Cup has struggled immediately out of the gate, perhaps in large part due to the emotional high of winning a largely meaningless title, only to return to the humbling reality that the games are still coming 100 miles an hour.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Reading him this season can be a humbling reminder of our finitude.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
So, all of this response has left me in a very humbling position.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2025
The only tie in which they were evidently outclassed was the 5-1 humbling by Benfica, who scored three times inside 20 second-half minutes and could have had more.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite the humbling rejection, the mom of two could see the funny side.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Old Dominion front man Matthew Ramsey called the day a humbling experience.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
Johnson has previously opened up about the humbling start to her acting career.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hafley said Wednesday that having his name being mentioned as a head coaching candidate is flattering and humbling.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The whole ordeal was humbling and perspective-giving, and leaves me feeling a lot of things.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
My own experiences cross country skiing have been humbling, maybe even humiliating.
—Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
There were also some humbling defeats, including when Maresca made the faux pas of saying going out of the FA Cup to Brighton could turn out to be a positive.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
This semester has been humbling, though.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Or maybe the latest trade war was unexpectedly humbling for America – shifting how the White House views Beijing.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Miami has lost two of its last three outings, including a humbling 26-20 defeat in overtime to SMU in Week 10.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Nine hours after addressing reporters in the wake of a humbling 28-6 loss to Baltimore, Mike McDaniel was at it again on Friday, speaking to Dolphins reporters via Zoom in the normal day-after-game media availability that’s required for all NFL head coaches.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbling
Adjective
-
With Hezbollah’s and Hamas’s leadership in disarray and Israeli jets maintaining a humiliating, virtually uncontested presence over Iranian airspace, the regime is strategically naked before its people—exposed by an empty treasury and an unprotected sky.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
-
My own experiences cross country skiing have been humbling, maybe even humiliating.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Chávez, who died of cancer in 2013, avoided such a humiliation.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Awkward, yes, but a far cry from the open humiliation of the Ukrainian leader that played out in the Oval Office in February.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Megan thee Stallion, legal name Megan Pete, sued Milagro Cooper last year for defamation, accusing her of working with Tory Lanez on discrediting her during his own trial with Pete where he was convicted of shooting her in the foot.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
-
On Thursday, India’s Press Information Bureau dismissed earlier social-media posts claiming that a Tejas aircraft had an oil leak during the air show, saying they were aimed at discrediting the fighter’s established technical reliability with unfounded claims, according to The Associated Press.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Bruce was praised by fellow members of the White House press corps for asking important questions despite the president’s demeaning comments.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
21 Nov. 2025
-
In a post dripping with arrogance, Lynch dished out demeaning nicknames for her recent opponents.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
-
An ever-growing pile of embarrassing legislative audits consistently reveals the persistent challenge the governor has with recruiting and retaining leaders with executive acumen.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sheriff Guidroz said the three inmates removed blocks from a degrading wall in the prison to create a hole, and used sheets to assist them in climbing down a wall and dropping to the ground.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
-
The safety alert also offered guidance to students on recognizing possible hazing, including coercion, unsafe or degrading activities, or tasks presented as mandatory for joining a group.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
That selectivity creates a stable interface and avoids many of the degradation pathways that plague liquid-electrolyte cells.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Scarce arable land and soil degradation further constrain food production.—
Mark Banchereau,
Fortune,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Even more fortunately, TJ also has a real, if mortifying, alibi.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The answer might be a mortifying surprise.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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