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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 humiliates
To show him who’s boss, Catherine turns around and buys Pac-North, humiliates him by closing it, and forces him back to Grey Sloan.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
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
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
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
-
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
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
-
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
While the marketplace hasn’t caught up, many are vocal about denouncing rhetoric that shames older women with the hopes that, one day, everyone will catch on.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Those early days were quite something, and to know that moment meant something to you all these years on truly humbles me.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
18 Dec. 2025
-
But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Venezuela may not be the sole source of cocaine, nor a major conduit for fentanyl, but dismantling a regime that actively protects and profits from transnational criminal networks unquestionably degrades those networks’ capacity to operate.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
-
But that study measured the shoes after 280 miles, leaving it unclear how much the foam degrades in 50 or 100 miles.—
Jonathan Beverly,
Outside,
26 Dec. 2025
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
-
Red Rising is a book that seems to confuses some politically right-leaning readers, something which frustrates but doesn’t surprise Abughazaleh.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Mars’ clash with Neptune clouds your judgment and confuses your intuition.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humiliates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliates. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
