as in discredits
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the reigning tennis champ was humiliated on the court by a newcomer who defeated him in straight sets
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Recent Examples of humiliates
Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Later that season, Eric humiliates Bill in front of their Pierpoint colleagues by insulting his work quality and Bill dies from brain cancer.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Thecla humiliates him by ripping his robe and tearing the wreath off his head.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s always a moment in which somebody humiliates the villain and now all the love in him is gone.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
And Sacks, a PayPal Mafia member and veteran Silicon Valley investor, is just the sort of titan of industry this town routinely devours and humiliates — from Rex Tillerson to, well, Elon Musk.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And whether the Carolina Panthers are just stuck in an endless loop of embarrassment, one that alternately humiliates and enrages their fans.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Later that season, Eric humiliates Bill in front of their Pierpoint colleagues by insulting his work quality and Bill dies from brain cancer.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Thecla humiliates him by ripping his robe and tearing the wreath off his head.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s always a moment in which somebody humiliates the villain and now all the love in him is gone.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
And Sacks, a PayPal Mafia member and veteran Silicon Valley investor, is just the sort of titan of industry this town routinely devours and humiliates — from Rex Tillerson to, well, Elon Musk.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And whether the Carolina Panthers are just stuck in an endless loop of embarrassment, one that alternately humiliates and enrages their fans.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliates
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Here are 8 books that reveal covert lives, truths that society forbids or shames, and an effusion of vibrant spirit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Critics say the sequence is built upon dubious data, overlooks racial disparities and shames students who are raised in single-parent households.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Summer heat humbles even experienced gardeners — but the good news is that some plants actually love it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The longevity of educational institutions humbles Molinaroli.—
Nia Bowers,
Ascend Agency,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Optical systems are blazing fast but require a direct line of sight and fail in murky water or when the buildup of microorganisms degrades the lenses.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 06,
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
-
The only caveat is that ceramic-coated cookware, like Teflon, isn’t designed for high-heat and degrades over time.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
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The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humiliates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliates. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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