humiliated

American  

[hyoo-mil-ee-ey-tid, yoo-] / hyuˈmɪl iˌeɪ tɪd, yu- /

adjective

1. made to feel a painful loss of pride, self-respect, or dignity; deeply embarrassed or put to shame.

   The strategy of the verbal abuser is to become the winner of every conversational debate and make the other person the humiliated loser.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of humiliate.

Other Word Forms

• unhumiliated adjective

Etymology

Origin of humiliated

First recorded in 1760–70; humiliate + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; humiliate + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

The choice is to either tell him directly that those things aren’t possible—no thanks!—or try them, only to be humiliated by either a grand jury or a judge.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Spurs were humiliated by Atletico, Liverpool lost to Galatasaray – although Newcastle United can take credit as they were only denied victory by Barcelona's last-gasp penalty at St James' Park.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

"We fled from the suburbs, we were humiliated," one man told AFP, declining to give his name.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Once the Games began, they were humiliated again by another kind of cheating scandal involving an unfaithful biathlete.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Mr. Justice had humiliated him publicly, and the story had gone quickly around the wharves, among his friends.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Related Words

• ashamed
• disgraced
• embarrassed