as in meekly
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion
humbly accepted the criticism
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humbly
While skiing in the Dolomites, I was humbly reminded that most hotel rooms in Italy don’t have coffee makers.
—
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
Greenidge puts her aims even more humbly.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
Unlike its sprawling neighbor, Riverside Church, a few streets over, Broadway Presbyterian stands humbly on a fraction of sidewalk, with a mere four stairs leading up to its fire-engine-red doors.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Founded in 1896, the club began humbly with a nine-hole layout near Tralee before moving to Fenit Island, where golfers played against the backdrop of Barrow Harbour.
—Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In a world often too quick to forget those who serve quietly and humbly, Roland’s story is remembered by family, friends and colleagues as one of true leadership.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Lan’s entrepreneurial journey began humbly.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2025
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
Greenidge puts her aims even more humbly.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
Unlike its sprawling neighbor, Riverside Church, a few streets over, Broadway Presbyterian stands humbly on a fraction of sidewalk, with a mere four stairs leading up to its fire-engine-red doors.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Founded in 1896, the club began humbly with a nine-hole layout near Tralee before moving to Fenit Island, where golfers played against the backdrop of Barrow Harbour.
—Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In a world often too quick to forget those who serve quietly and humbly, Roland’s story is remembered by family, friends and colleagues as one of true leadership.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Lan’s entrepreneurial journey began humbly.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbly
Adverb
-
In other words, students prepare for citizenship in a disputatious society by practicing the civic arts—by asserting and advocating for their views—not by meekly absorbing lessons from their instructors.—
Christopher L. Eisgruber,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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Well, after years of stuttering, pausing, juddering, waiting for the goalkeeper to dive and then rolling spot kicks meekly into the net, Nick Woltemade may have just reversed the trend.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Listen politely and consider offering a compromise to address any concerns.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
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In day care, dogs are introduced to a range of new experiences while also learning positive behaviors such as sitting calmly for a nail trim, greeting other dogs politely, or coming when called.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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An engineer with a litter-picker grabbed the fallen cloth and sheepishly moved it behind the machine, out of my line of sight.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In Inwood, even a pair of volunteers for Cuomo sheepishly stopped him for selfies.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Princess Bride is superbly planned and deferentially orchestrated — its theme fits its telling.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
We’re modestly paid teachers and a trip to South America is well beyond our budgets.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Shares of Zions and Western Alliance rebounded modestly on Friday.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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As may Arizona’s Trey Benson versus lowly Tennessee.—
Kevin Cusick,
Twin Cities,
2 Oct. 2025
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Even worse, the Red Devils lost to lowly Grimsby Town in penalties in the second round of the EFL Cup at the end of August.—
Pueng Vongs,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbly. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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