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
Norvell’s firing Sunday came after another humiliating defeat, this one a 36-24 home loss to a mediocre Clemson team. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 Fernandes had criticized Carrick's tactics after a humiliating 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League on Wednesday. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 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
  • Even a mandate as simple as removing racist or demeaning school mascots has depended more on districts’ voluntary compliance than force.
    — David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Her demeaning behavior toward her boyfriend makes the letter writer reconsider their friendship.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of demeaning
Verb
  • The newspaper’s closure follows years of pressure As part of the Kremlin’s rampant crackdown on critics, Novaya Gazeta was fined after it was accused of discrediting Russia’s armed forces.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of discrediting infringement arguments, this year generative AI company Bria launched Fibo, a tool that pays artist royalties to the creators of the original references.
    — Rae Witte, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of discrediting
Adjective
  • At Fuerte Guaicaipuro, a military facility, investigators documented detainees being confined in pit-like cells dug below ground level and subjected to cold, food deprivation and other degrading treatment.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The beating can look degrading, but the check might protect opportunities for hundreds of athletes who never appear in the game.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of degrading
Verb
  • My New York neighbors barely said hello; in Singapore, a stranger would probably politely look away rather than risk embarrassing you.
    — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After those results went public, embarrassing Muñiz and a few other judges, the Florida Bar stopped conducting surveys and publishing the results … leaving Florida voters with even fewer resources.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 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
  • Similarly, his script reflects an era in which teenagers grow up with the very real fear of public shaming through social media in their heads.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This isn’t about shaming the Hawks for not being benevolent enough.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaming
Adjective
  • And then, sure enough, Tall Paul was at his husky and mortifying business.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But off the air, Brattin, Conn, and their network continued to laugh about the mortifying moment.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Aug. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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