abasement
/ə'beismənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of lowering in rank, dignity, or quality; humiliation: "Abasement" refers to the action of reducing someone's status, self-respect, or honor.
- A state of being degraded or humbled: "Abasement" can also describe the resulting condition of feeling low, disgraced, or cast down.
Usage
- Abasement is typically used in formal or literary contexts to describe a profound loss of dignity or self-esteem, either through one's own actions or the actions of others.
- It often carries a strong connotation of shame and moral or social lowering.
Examples
- The public abasement of the official followed the corruption scandal.
- He felt a deep sense of abasement after his failure.
- Her confession was an act of abasement before the council.
Advanced Usage
- Self-abasement: The act of humiliating or degrading oneself.
- His constant apologies bordered on self-abasement.
- To bring into abasement: To cause someone to be humbled or degraded.
- The defeat brought the proud nation into abasement.
Variants and Related Words
- Abase (verb): To behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone or oneself).
- He would not abase himself by begging.
- Abased (adjective): Humbled; degraded.
- She felt abased by the unfair criticism.
Synonyms
- Humiliation: The act of making someone feel ashamed and foolish.
- Degradation: The condition of being lowered in character or quality.
- Disgrace: Loss of reputation or respect.
- Mortification: Great embarrassment and shame.
Antonyms
- Exaltation: The action of elevating someone in rank or power.
- Dignification: The act of conferring dignity or honor.
- Honor: High respect; esteem.
Idioms and Phrases
- Abject abasement: Complete and utter humiliation.
- The treaty demanded the abject abasement of the conquered king.
- To suffer abasement: To endure a state of being humbled or disgraced.
- The knight suffered abasement after breaking his oath.
Noun
- depriving one of self-esteem
- a low or downcast state
- each confession brought her into an attitude of abasement- H.L.Menchken