humiliate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Related Words
Other Word Forms
- humiliated adjective
- humiliating adjective
- humiliatingly adverb
- humiliation noun
- humiliative adjective
- humiliator noun
- humiliatory adjective
- rehumiliate verb (used with object)
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.
The gesture provoked a seismic reaction internationally while infuriating Olympic officials who claimed Smith and Carlos used the world stage to humiliate their home country.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026
But the image had been digitally altered — in the original, Armstrong appeared stoic and determined — and appeared to be designed to humiliate her before trial.
From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026
The goal "is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them", the document says.
From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026
By revealing the scandal as guests enjoy their turkey, Buddy hopes to humiliate his enemy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
“Because let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.”
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
