humiliate

[hyoo-mil-ee-eyt or, often, yoo-]

See more synonyms for humiliate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), hu·mil·i·at·ed, hu·mil·i·at·ing.

to cause (a person) a painful loss of pride, self-respect, or dignity; mortify.

Origin of humiliate

1525–35; < Late Latin humiliātus (past participle of humiliāre “to humble”), equivalent to Latin humili(s) humble + -ātus -ate¹

Related formshu·mil·i·a·tor, nounhu·mil·i·a·to·ry

[hyoo-mil-ee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee or, often, yoo-] /hyuˈmɪl i əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i or, often, yu-/, hu·mil·i·a·tive, adjectivere·hu·mil·i·ate, verb (used with object), re·hu·mil·i·at·ed, re·hu·mil·i·at·ing.un·hu·mil·i·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for humiliate on Thesaurus.com

dishonor, disgrace, shame; degrade, abase, debase.

Synonym study

See ashamed, humbled.

Antonyms

exalt, honor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for humiliate

Contemporary Examples

The same massive evidence trove body cameras create can, if used selectively, humiliate and indict average citizens.
Your Arrest Video Is Going Online. Who Will See It?
Jacob Siegel
September 11, 2014
More girls are reporting their boyfriends stalk them via text message or threaten to humiliate them with social media.
Digital Harassment Is the New Means of Domestic Abuse
Keli Goff
February 10, 2014
In the video, Al Sabawi, the father, tears the PA a new one for attempting to humiliate him and forgetting who the real enemy is.
Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, Mahmoud Abbas Has Got to Go
Maysoon Zayid
December 3, 2013
For most of them, this vote is a chance to humiliate Obama before the entire world.
The Odds of War in Syria? A Lot Higher Now
Michael Tomasky
August 31, 2013
A chance to humiliate him not just in front of the Fox News audience, but the entire world!
Will Boehner Play Ball on Syria?
Michael Tomasky
August 30, 2013

Historical Examples

For that breach of etiquette I had to humiliate you that Royal dignity might be preserved.
City of Endless Night
Milo Hastings
The cruel heroine of his heart must ridicule and humiliate him as much as possible.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
So it has been the only square thing to do––humiliate myself into telling.
The Gorgeous Girl
Nalbro Bartley
That's not what I've come for, but I shall be delighted if I humiliate you a little by the way.
The Tragic Muse
Henry James
Man of crushing responsibilities, you've come to humiliate me!
The Tragic Muse
Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for humiliate

humiliate

verb

(tr) to lower or hurt the dignity or pride of

Derived Formshumiliated, adjectivehumiliating, adjectivehumiliatingly, adverbhumiliation, nounhumiliative (hjuːˈmɪljətɪv), adjectivehumiliator, nounhumiliatory, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from Late Latin humiliāre, from Latin humilis humble

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for humiliate

v.

1530s, perhaps a back-formation from humiliation. Related: Humiliated; humiliating; humiliatingly.

humiliate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}humiliate

Synonyms

Synonym study

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for humiliate

Contemporary Examples

The same massive evidence trove body cameras create can, if used selectively, humiliate and indict average citizens.

More girls are reporting their boyfriends stalk them via text message or threaten to humiliate them with social media.

In the video, Al Sabawi, the father, tears the PA a new one for attempting to humiliate him and forgetting who the real enemy is.

For most of them, this vote is a chance to humiliate Obama before the entire world.

A chance to humiliate him not just in front of the Fox News audience, but the entire world!

Historical Examples

For that breach of etiquette I had to humiliate you that Royal dignity might be preserved.

The cruel heroine of his heart must ridicule and humiliate him as much as possible.

So it has been the only square thing to do––humiliate myself into telling.

That's not what I've come for, but I shall be delighted if I humiliate you a little by the way.

Man of crushing responsibilities, you've come to humiliate me!

humiliate

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for humiliate

v.

Origin of humiliate