humiliate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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humiliationnoun
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humiliatedadjective
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humiliatoryadjective
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humiliativeadjective
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humiliatingadjective
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rehumiliateverb (used with object)
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humiliatinglyadverb
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humiliatornoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has humiliatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have humiliatedperfect
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are humiliatingprogressive
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has been humiliatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am humiliatingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been humiliatingperfect progressive
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humiliatessingular 3rd person
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is humiliatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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humiliatingparticiple
Past
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had humiliatedperfect
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were humiliatingprogressive plural
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was humiliatingprogressive singular
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had been humiliatingperfect progressive
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humiliatedsimple
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humiliatedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of humiliate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin humiliātus (past participle of humiliāre “to humble”), equivalent to Latin humili(s) humble + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
Humiliate means to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, often publicly. It would humiliate all but the most self-assured person to realize that everyone else in the room has noticed their fly is down. For many, the experience of high school seems designed to humiliate teens––under the microscope of public scrutiny that is the high school community, every break up, every bad-hair day, every forgotten homework assignment humiliates kids in ways adults rarely understand.
Vocabulary lists containing humiliate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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Words for the High School Graduate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the time, Wallace said he was "deeply sorry for any distress" he caused, and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate".
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
As Rue muses in a voiceover, she’s beautiful, directionless and “so desperate for attention she’s willing to humiliate herself.”
From Salon • May 4, 2026
I have very mixed feelings about it, because I’m extremely grateful that I’ve made a living and haven’t had to humiliate myself too much in order to do it.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
"By insisting on retraction China is trying to humiliate her and turning up the heat on the controversy," Kingston said.
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
They issued orders, neglected to explain procedures, were eager to lay blame, and tried to humiliate us.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
