humiliate
Americanverb (used with object)
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humiliates,
present (3rd person singular)
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humiliated,
past participle, past
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humiliating
present participle
verb
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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humiliationnoun
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humiliatornoun
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rehumiliateverb (used with object)
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humiliatedadjective
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humiliatingadjective
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humiliativeadjective
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humiliatoryadjective
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humiliatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
humiliatesimple
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humiliatessimple
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have humiliatedperfect
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has humiliatedperfect
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am humiliatingprogressive
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are humiliatingprogressive
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is humiliatingprogressive
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have been humiliatingperfect progressive
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has been humiliatingperfect progressive
Past
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humiliatedsimple
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had humiliatedperfect
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was humiliatingprogressive
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were humiliatingprogressive
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had been humiliatingperfect progressive
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
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"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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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.
See Examples For:
After the embarrassment of 2018, they simply couldn’t humiliate themselves on home soil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Northampton scored 14 tries to humiliate Bristol at Franklin's Gardens and confirm their place in the Prem semi-finals.
From BBC ● May 15, 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
I knew he wanted to humiliate us on the opening play.
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Critics say Philips doesn't just challenge those beliefs - he humiliates the people who hold them.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
The league says its operations manual strictly prohibits bullying and hazing, which is defined as behavior that “harms, intimidates, offends, degrades, threatens, or humiliates another person or creates a risk to their health or safety.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 21, 2023
“People already want to lean into believing something that humiliates or mocks or targets someone they dislike.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2023
Dream wins and humiliates the Lord of Hell, after which she swears revenge.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2022
But a cramp, he thought of it as a calambre, humiliates oneself especially when one is alone.
From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
Now older, these women appear stronger and more introspective while revisiting how they were manipulated and humiliated for America’s entertainment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Foster bought high-end watches and cars with his share of the proceeds while many victims told NTS investigators they had been left financially and emotionally devastated, and felt humiliated and betrayed.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Niederhoffer was devastated and humiliated, but he kept looking for patterns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
A man with osteoarthritis and learning difficulties has said he feels "humiliated" after being told he cannot take his new mobility scooter on Translink's train services because it has been deemed to be too big.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Thoroughly humiliated, he called out to his former friend the cat, “It was all my fault. I apologize to you, Squire Julian.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Carrick's future at Old Trafford is uncertain after a humiliating defeat to Cesc Fabregas' Como in the Champions League earlier this week.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
However, the impact of even a botched attack on B-1 bombers would be humiliating for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Carroll testified in court, a process he says was "humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous".
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
In the aftermath of the Rams’ humiliating season-opening defeat in Australia, the team’s defense is dominating the news cycle: edge rusher Myles Garrett’s knee surgery, lineman Aaron Donald’s potential season debut.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
That was cold comfort, Serber reflected: “I had found the experience humiliating and frightening, and resented having been put through it.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
