humiliate
verb
hu·mil·i·ate hyü-ˈmi-lē-ˌāt 
yü-
humiliated; humiliating
transitive verb
: to reduce (someone) to a lower position in one's own eyes or others' eyes : to make (someone) ashamed or embarrassed : mortify
hoped they wouldn't humiliate themselves in their next game
accused her of humiliating him in public
feel so humiliated
humiliation
hyü-ˌmi-lē-ˈā-shən
noun yü-
Synonyms
- abase
- chasten
- cheapen
- debase
- degrade
- demean
- discredit
- disgrace
- dishonor
- foul
- humble
- lower
- shame
- sink
- smirch
- take down
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I hope I don't humiliate myself during the presentation. He accused her of trying to humiliate him in public. She was hurt and deeply humiliated by the lies he told about her.
Recent Examples on the Web But under pressure from Tehran, Iraq has been maneuvering for months and even years to weaken, humiliate and ultimately strangle it. 
Bernard-henri Lévy, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Perhaps because administration officials see an opportunity to humiliate a political foe. Brett Tolman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 As the second episode of the new HBO Max drama came to a close, Karen (Mallory Bechtel) was poised to humiliate Imogen (Bailee Madison) at the school dance by dumping a bucket of blood on her. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 28 July 2022 Her bravery in coming forward in such a public role should humiliate all the older Trump enablers who now cower in silence trying to erase their complicity in the most dangerous coup attempt in American history. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 June 2022 The same platform that propped up the Rae family seamlessly shifted gears to humiliate them. Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 22 July 2022 Ducking, in comparison, didn’t aim to punish the subject in the most torturous manner possible, but rather to humiliate them in front of their peers—a punishment that theoretically befitted the lesser crime. Katie Dancey-downs, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2022 To humiliate him for his transgression, other members stripped the fascist insignia from his uniform. Emily Langer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 To humiliate him for his transgression, other members stripped the fascist insignia from his uniform. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 See More
Bernard-henri Lévy, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Perhaps because administration officials see an opportunity to humiliate a political foe. Brett Tolman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 As the second episode of the new HBO Max drama came to a close, Karen (Mallory Bechtel) was poised to humiliate Imogen (Bailee Madison) at the school dance by dumping a bucket of blood on her. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 28 July 2022 Her bravery in coming forward in such a public role should humiliate all the older Trump enablers who now cower in silence trying to erase their complicity in the most dangerous coup attempt in American history. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 June 2022 The same platform that propped up the Rae family seamlessly shifted gears to humiliate them. Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 22 July 2022 Ducking, in comparison, didn’t aim to punish the subject in the most torturous manner possible, but rather to humiliate them in front of their peers—a punishment that theoretically befitted the lesser crime. Katie Dancey-downs, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2022 To humiliate him for his transgression, other members stripped the fascist insignia from his uniform. Emily Langer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 To humiliate him for his transgression, other members stripped the fascist insignia from his uniform. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin humiliatus, past participle of humiliare, from Latin humilis low — more at humble
First Known Use
circa 1534, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
humiliate
verb
hu·mil·i·ate hyü-ˈmi-lē-ˌāt
yü-
humiliated; humiliating
: to cause (someone) to feel very ashamed or foolish
My brother humiliates me with my nickname, Stinky.
humiliates
verb
as in discredits
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes the reigning tennis champ was humiliated on the court by a newcomer who defeated him in straight sets Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- discredits
- embarrasses
- shames
- humbles
- degrades
- disgraces
- demeans
- confuses
- dishonors
- debases
- insults
- abases
- chastens
- criticizes
- rattles
- cheapens
- lowers
- ridicules
- diminishes
- belittles
- mortifies
- disparages
- sinks
- flusters
- minimizes
- takes down
- fouls
- disconcerts
- smirches
- condemns
- defames
- maligns
- confounds
- discomfits
- detracts
- castigates
- decries
- slanders
- depreciates
- defiles
- denounces
- discounts
- fazes
- affronts
- abashes
- libels
- bad-mouths
- discountenances
- nonplusses
- nonpluses
- damns
- censures
- writes off
- cries down
- execrates
- puts down
- reprehends
- reprobates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exalts
- elevates
- deifies
- congratulates
- aggrandizes
- commends
- applauds
- celebrates
- recognizes
- decorates
- acknowledges
- lauds
- canonizes
- cites
- hails
- salutes
- boasts
- praises
- extols
- eulogizes
- cheers
- honors
- touts
- compliments
- extolls
- acclaims
- ennobles
- dignifies
- glorifies
- promotes
- magnifies
- highlights
- fetes
- lifts
- enshrines
- enthrones
- uplifts
- raises
- spotlights
- advances
- boosts
- idealizes
- romanticizes
- fêtes
- upgrades
- plays up
- enskies