humiliate

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

verb (used with object)

humiliated, humiliating 

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

   Synonyms: debase, abase, degrade, degrade, shame, mortify, disgrace, disgrace, dishonor
   Antonyms: elevate, exalt, dignify

humiliate

/ hjuːˈmɪlɪˌeɪt, hjuːˈmɪljətɪv /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• humiliator noun
• humiliatory adjective
• humiliative adjective
• rehumiliate verb (used with object)
• humiliated adjective
• humiliation noun
• humiliatingly adverb
• humiliating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humiliate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin humiliātus (past participle of humiliāre “to humble”), equivalent to Latin humili(s) humble + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of humiliate¹

C16: from Late Latin humiliāre, from Latin humilis _humble

Synonym Study

See ashamed, humbled.

Example Sentences

The BBC has reported a number of cases where girls and women have been singled out and humiliated for their clothes.

Read more on BBC

He has accused prison authorities of humiliating and torturing him.

Read more on BBC

Publicly, he put all the pressure on Hamas, a move that eventually cornered its leaders into a humiliating compromise.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In short, it’s what people do way too often in the face of fascism, and if we know one thing about it for sure — well, actually, we know two: It’s humiliating and it doesn’t work.

Read more on Salon

"At this stage, it's just to annoy us, it's part of the Russians' displays of hostility. They're trying to humiliate us," said a French security source, requesting not to be named.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• confuse 
• crush 
• degrade 
• demean 
• depress 
• disgrace 
• humble 
• shame 
• snub 
• subdue