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Humiliate: meaning, definitions and examples

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humiliate

 

[ hjuːˈmɪlɪeɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in a social setting

To humiliate someone is to make them feel ashamed and foolish, often in front of others. It involves demeaning and degrading someone in a way that damages their self-esteem.

Synonyms

degrade, disgrace, embarrass, shame

Examples of usage

  • She felt humiliated when her boss criticized her in front of her colleagues.
  • He humiliated his opponent with his superior skills in the game.
  • The bully's actions were aimed at humiliating his classmates.
Context #2 | Verb

in a personal relationship

To humiliate someone in a personal relationship is to hurt their feelings deeply, causing emotional pain and damage to the relationship.

Synonyms

betray, hurt, offend, upset

Examples of usage

  • She was humiliated by her partner's public display of anger towards her.
  • He never intended to humiliate her, but his words had a lasting impact.

Translations

Translations of the word "humiliate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 humilhar

🇮🇳 अपमानित करना

🇩🇪 demütigen

🇮🇩 menghina

🇺🇦 принижувати

🇵🇱 upokarzać

🇯🇵 屈辱を与える

🇫🇷 humilier

🇪🇸 humillar

🇹🇷 aşağılamak

🇰🇷 굴욕감을 주다

🇸🇦 إذلال

🇨🇿 ponížit

🇸🇰 ponížiť

🇨🇳 羞辱

🇸🇮 ponižati

🇮🇸 niðurlægja

🇰🇿 қорлау

🇬🇪 დამცირება

🇦🇿 alçaltmaq

🇲🇽 humillar

Etymology

The word 'humiliate' originated from the Latin word 'humiliatus', which means 'made humble'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. The concept of humiliation has been prevalent throughout history, often used as a form of punishment or control. Humiliation can have lasting effects on an individual's mental and emotional well-being, making it a sensitive and impactful word in human interactions.

See also: humiliated, humiliating, humiliatingly, humiliation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,888, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.