humbling

American  

[huhm-bling, uhm-] / ˈhʌm blɪŋ, ˈʌm- /

adjective

1. causing a person to feel less proud, especially through awe, admiration, or gratitude.

   This project has involved some exceptionally talented people and it’s been a humbling experience to work with them.

2. lowering a person’s status, power, dignity, confidence, etc..

   The 26:2 vote in favor of their opponents was indeed a humbling defeat.

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noun

1. the act of affecting a person or thing in any of these ways, or the experience of being so affected.

   The Magna Carta marked the restoration of Anglo-Saxon freedom and the humbling of Norman tyranny.

Other Word Forms

• humblingly adverb
• self-humbling adjective

Etymology

Origin of humbling

First recorded in 1540–50; humbl(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; humbl(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

The gap between how effortless these motions looked and how they felt in my hands was humbling.

From Salon

There’s such a tenderness in returning to something you built—it’s equal parts humbling and energizing.

From The Wall Street Journal

This can be a humbling exercise, as we found out in 2024, when our picks were well behind the market.

From Barron's

The scrutiny on what began as a teen’s amateur operation has been humbling, Sandidge said.

From Los Angeles Times

No shots on target, and a single touch in the opposition box in a difficult first half, it was a humbling night for United, who are competing in their first European main draw.

From BBC

Related Words

• contempt
• degradation
• dishonor
• disrespect
• humiliation
• ignominy
• opprobrium
• reproach
• scorn
• stigma