humiliating

[hyoo-mil-ee-ey-ting, yoo-]

adjective

1. lowering the pride, self-respect, or dignity of a person; mortifying.

   Such a humiliating defeat was good for his overblown ego.

Other Word Forms

• humiliatingly adverb
• self-humiliating adjective
• unhumiliating adjective
• unhumiliatingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of humiliating¹

First recorded in 1750–60; humiliat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Coach Brendon McCullum urged England fans to "keep the faith" and said there would be no change in approach after their humiliating capitulation in the first Ashes Test in Perth.

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Like many of those facing repossession action the BBC has spoken to, Mr McRae said the experience was deeply "humiliating" and that his instincts were initially "to draw the curtains shut".

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But Penelope longed to shore up her spirits after that humiliating conversation with Lady Constance and the failed pretend-letter to Simon, and so she decided to indulge herself.

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It becomes the subject of gossip and soon attracts the attention of the media, after which it escalates into a crisis of vast and humiliating proportions.

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Segregation was humiliating, but we dealt with it as we pressed for change in various ways, large and small.

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Related Words

• demeaning 
• embarrassing www.thesaurus.com
• humbling