Humiliation: meaning, definitions and examples

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humiliation

[hjuːmɪlɪˈeɪʃn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in social situations

The action of making someone feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect.

Synonyms

embarrassment, indignity, shame.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
humiliation	This word is used when someone is profoundly degraded or made to feel very small. It often involves a situation where someone's dignity is severely compromised, usually by others. His public humiliation after the scandal was hard to watch. She felt a deep sense of humiliation when her mistake was pointed out in front of everyone.
embarrassment	This word refers to a feeling of awkwardness, discomfort, or self-consciousness, usually occurring in social situations. It is often less severe than other synonyms. He turned red with embarrassment when he tripped in front of his classmates. The unexpected question from the interviewer caused her to fumble in embarrassment.
shame	Shame is a deep feeling of guilt and regret about one's actions or behavior. It often has a moral or ethical dimension and can be long-lasting. The feeling of shame lingered long after he apologized for his actions. She couldn't shake off the shame of having hurt her friend.
indignity	Indignity is used when someone is treated with a lack of respect or in a degrading way, often in a situation where the treatment is unfair or unjust. She suffered the indignity of being fired in front of her colleagues. The indignity of the situation left him feeling deeply resentful.

Examples of usage

She had suffered the humiliation of being publicly criticized.
He couldn't bear the humiliation of losing in front of his friends.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in personal relationships

The feeling of being degraded or ashamed by someone's actions or words.

Synonyms

disgrace, humbling, mortification.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
humiliation	This is used when someone feels deeply embarrassed or ashamed due to an action or situation. It often involves public awareness. She felt deep humiliation when she forgot her lines during the play. Losing in front of his hometown crowd was a great humiliation for the athlete.
disgrace	This is more severe and often involves a loss of reputation or respect. It can imply something morally or socially wrong. The scandal brought disgrace upon the entire family. Being caught cheating was a disgrace to his career.
humbling	This is used to describe an experience that reduces someone's ego or pride in a modest or respectful way. Often without negative intentions. Winning the award was a humbling experience for her. Volunteering at the shelter was humbling and eye-opening.
mortification	This is an intense feeling of shame or embarrassment, often heightened in a very personal or sensitive situation. He felt deep mortification when his mother found out about his lie. The mistake during her speech led to hours of mortification.

Examples of usage

She could not forgive her husband for the humiliation he had caused her.
He felt a deep sense of humiliation after being betrayed by his best friend.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

in competitive environments

The act of defeating someone in a way that makes them feel weak or inferior.

Synonyms

defeat, humbling, shame.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
humiliation	This word is used when someone feels deeply embarrassed, often publicly and intensely. The scandal brought him great humiliation. She felt humiliation after being laughed at by her classmates.
defeat	This word refers to losing a battle, game, or competition. It does not necessarily carry a strong emotional impact by itself. The team faced a crushing defeat in the finals. Despite the defeat, they held their heads high.
humbling	This word is often positive or neutral, indicating a situation that makes someone feel more modest or aware of their limitations. Winning the award was a humbling experience. Traveling to different cultures can be very humbling.
shame	This word is used when someone feels a deep sense of guilt or disgrace, often internal and related to personal moral failings. He felt a deep sense of shame for his actions. She couldn't look him in the eye out of shame.

Examples of usage

The team suffered a humiliating defeat, and the players felt the weight of humiliation.
The candidate faced humiliation after coming last in the competition.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Humiliation can deeply affect self-esteem and lead to feelings of worthlessness.
Research shows that experiencing humiliation often triggers a strong fight-or-flight response, similar to fear.
When people feel humiliated, they may react with anger or withdrawal as self-protection.

Cultural Context

In some cultures, honor and shame play crucial roles, making public humiliation particularly impactful.
Japanese culture often emphasizes 'saving face,' where humiliation can lead to societal ostracism.
Humiliation has been used throughout history in various cultures as a form of punishment or control.

Literature

Classic literature often explores themes of humiliation, depicting characters facing shame, like in Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment'.
In Shakespeare's plays, characters often experience humiliation, revealing complex human emotions and social commentary.
Contemporary novels tackle humiliation as a theme that connects with readers’ experiences of social media pressures.

Pop Culture

Reality television often showcases humiliation for entertainment, raising questions about ethics and personal boundaries.
The phrase 'public humiliation' has become popular in discussions around bullying, especially on social media platforms.
Many comedians use personal stories of humiliation to connect with audiences and create humor from relatable situations.

Historical Origins

The term 'humiliation' comes from the Latin word 'humiliare,' which means to lower or bring down.
Historically, humiliation was often used as a punitive measure in various societies to reinforce power dynamics.
During the Enlightenment, discussions about personal dignity emerged, critiquing forms of humiliation in social and political contexts.

Translations

Translations of the word "humiliation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 humilhação

🇮🇳 अपमान

🇩🇪 Demütigung

🇮🇩 penghinaan

🇺🇦 приниження

🇵🇱 upokorzenie

🇯🇵 屈辱 (くつじょく)

🇫🇷 humiliation

🇪🇸 humillación

🇹🇷 aşağılama

🇰🇷 굴욕 (gulyok)

🇸🇦 إذلال (idhlaal)

🇨🇿 ponížení

🇸🇰 poníženie

🇨🇳 屈辱 (qū rǔ)

🇸🇮 ponižanje

🇮🇸 niðurlæging

🇰🇿 қорлану

🇬🇪 დამცირება (damcireba)

🇦🇿 alçaldılma

🇲🇽 humillación

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,165, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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