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

“Joe would bully people around. He’d humiliate them and then try to make it up to them by giving them huge amounts of money.”

Read more on Literature

Then again, the experience humiliates Carrie to such an extent that she slaughters everyone at her prom and limps off to die in the woods, so . . . hooray, feminism?

Read more on Salon

The Passport Policy also invites the probing, and at times humiliating, additional scrutiny these plaintiffs have experienced.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was humiliating to have fallen so deeply into Khrushchev’s trap.

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He said the Thai official had "humiliated, insulted and showed a lack of respect" to Ms Bosch, and committed the "serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenceless woman".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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