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
The restaurant from Yao and co-owners Ryan Bailey and Nikki Reginaldo began humbly, as did its beverage program.
—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
The post shows the actress going from humbly accepting the compliment to striking her best modeling poses as the wind blows through her hair.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Some films herald the scope of their ambitions from the opening frame, whereas others start humbly with a mastery that slowly comes to the fore.
—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Intricate details of both spacecraft stages, down to some individual rivets, can be seen along the spacecraft hulls, while Earth hangs humbly in the background on the bottom half of the frame.
—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Culhane humbly says this is what helped platform him.
—
Ella Gonzales
may 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Our journey began humbly in 1983 with high-stakes bingo.
—
Cody J Martinez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
25 Mar. 2026
When a coalition of figures assembled at a Georgetown University forum, in February, 2023, the former Crown Prince sat humbly in a row of eight, alongside two actresses, a soccer player, and an Iranian Kurdish separatist.
—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
The post shows the actress going from humbly accepting the compliment to striking her best modeling poses as the wind blows through her hair.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Some films herald the scope of their ambitions from the opening frame, whereas others start humbly with a mastery that slowly comes to the fore.
—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Intricate details of both spacecraft stages, down to some individual rivets, can be seen along the spacecraft hulls, while Earth hangs humbly in the background on the bottom half of the frame.
—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Culhane humbly says this is what helped platform him.
—
Ella Gonzales
may 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Our journey began humbly in 1983 with high-stakes bingo.
—
Cody J Martinez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
25 Mar. 2026
When a coalition of figures assembled at a Georgetown University forum, in February, 2023, the former Crown Prince sat humbly in a row of eight, alongside two actresses, a soccer player, and an Iranian Kurdish separatist.
—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbly
Adverb
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Whether a man chose to use that pistol or meekly give up the money to a robber was up to him.
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That was checkmate, as Martinez grounded out meekly to end the season.
Adverb
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For much of the last two seasons, Washington’s defense has been out of sync, to put it politely.
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Almost nine years after their awkward handshake at the 2017 Bastille Day military parade, the two men politely shook hands and expressed their affinity for each other.
Adverb
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The boy stepped out of the chair, thanked the staff and said goodbye — only to sheepishly return for a hug with Hiniker.
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Rather than a nod of respect, Spurs fans—myself now sheepishly included—are finding their favorite tees and caps drawing chirps, sneers, and curses.
Adverb
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Outwardly Smart behaved submissively, following her captors’ instructions while always looking for a way to escape.
Adverb
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Precedent thus gave the judge reason to deferentially review settlement terms.
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Scorsese shoots them beautifully and deferentially.
Adverb
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Nike shares are modestly higher Friday despite KeyBanc downgrading the stock to a hold-equivalent rating ahead of next Tuesday's earnings report.
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Kombucha may modestly alter the gut microbiota.
Adverb
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And Colorado Springs Switchbacks earned a 3-1 win over lowly Sporting Kansas City.
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To win the division, the Ravens would need to win at Green Bay and Pittsburgh and have the Steelers lose to lowly Cleveland in Week 17.
Cite this Entry
“Humbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbly. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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