humiliating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of humiliatingnext
as in demeaning

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humiliating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of humiliate
as in discrediting
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

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 humiliating
Adjective
One of the most humiliating performances from any team in this World Cup. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 Joshua Kimmich — Germany/Bayern Munich (-9) One of Germany’s better performers against Paraguay and scored his penalty in the shootout, but that doesn’t count for much within the context of another humiliating early World Cup exit. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
State caseworkers have sent an untold number of elders in their care to a coterie of homes with a history of hurting, ignoring or humiliating their residents, records and anguished families say. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026 These clips often use humor and pop‑culture aesthetics—even LEGO‑style animations—to show Iran’s late supreme leader outsmarting and humiliating his American adversaries. — Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for humiliating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliating
  1. demeaning
  2. discrediting
  3. degrading
  4. embarrassing
  5. humbling
  6. shaming
  7. mortifying
  8. disgracing
Adjective
  • This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Some women who filed lawsuits against Ortega reported they had been confused about whether demeaning or uncomfortable actions the doctor engaged in during exams was within the bounds of necessary medical behavior.
    — Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Definition of demeaning
Verb
  • Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Defense attorney Tom Mesereau was an expert at discrediting witnesses, subjects told the filmmakers, but certain key witnesses, like Janet Arvizo, struggled to connect with the jury on their own.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of discrediting
Adjective
  • Federal authorities have subjected record numbers of immigrants to mandatory detention, including in inhuman and degrading conditions, while gutting internal oversight mechanisms.
    — Minky Worden, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Detainees recounted degrading and inhumane living conditions that included bathrooms covered in feces, flooded housing units and no access to soap or other basic hygiene supplies, according to the report.
    — Michael Biesecker, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of degrading
Verb
  • Eric Silva isn’t even embarrassing them this season in the Tigers’ system over the Canha trade.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Ukraine has carried out major drone strikes on Russia’s two largest cities, embarrassing the Kremlin with images of black plumes of smoke that circulated widely online, despite regulations restricting their publication.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • Being on an island starving is very humbling.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of humbling
Verb
  • Meanwhile parents aren’t necessarily dismissing or shaming the grandparents parenting style, just making different choices.
    — Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 17 July 2026
  • Now people are using everything from workplace bans, apps and even old-fashioned public shaming to stop the casual surveillance.
    — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 8 July 2026
Definition of shaming
Adjective
  • Self-mortifying pamagdarame rituals, including whipping and crucifixion, likewise have roots in medieval Christian tradition.
    — H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
  • There was once a time when a visible slip was considered a mortifying fashion faux pas.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Definition of mortifying
Verb
  • Social media users have critiqued her body both when with and without child and have accused her of disgracing the image of Black women.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
  • Why are adults so comfortable publicly disgracing Black teenage girls going to their prom and being cruel toward strangers who are sometimes half their age?
    — Essence, Essence, 11 May 2026
Definition of disgracing

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Cite this Entry

“Humiliating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliating. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of humiliating for Spanish Speakers

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