Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to feel ashamed or foolish; to hurt or lower someone's dignity and self-respect, often in front of others.

Usage

The verb "humiliate" describes the action of making someone feel a deep sense of shame, embarrassment, or loss of pride. It often involves a public or social context where the person's dignity is undermined. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the person being humiliated).

Examples

• Verb:
  • The coach's harsh criticism humiliated the young athlete in front of the whole team.
  • She felt humiliated when her mistake was announced to the entire office.
  • His goal was not to win the argument but to humiliate his opponent.

Advanced Usage

• "to be humiliated": This passive construction is very common, focusing on the experience of the person who feels shame.
  • He was deeply humiliated by the public rejection.
• "to humiliate oneself": To do something that causes one to feel ashamed.
  • By losing his temper, he only succeeded in humiliating himself.

Variants and Related Words

• Humiliation (n): The feeling or state of being humiliated; a deeply embarrassing event.
  • Suffering that defeat was a profound humiliation for the champion.
• Humiliating (adj): Causing humiliation.
  • It was a humiliating experience for everyone involved.

Synonyms

• Mortify: To cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed.
• Degrade: To treat or regard someone with contempt; to lower in dignity.
• Disgrace: To bring shame or discredit upon someone.
• Embarrass: To cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed (generally less severe than "humiliate").

Antonyms

• Honor: To regard with great respect.
• Dignify: To make something seem worthy and impressive.
• Praise: To express warm approval or admiration.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To add insult to injury: To make a bad situation worse, often in a way that humiliates.
  • After firing her, they added insult to injury by escorting her out of the building in front of her colleagues.
• To rub someone's nose in it: To continually remind someone of their mistake or failure in a humiliating way.
  • He won, but he didn't need to rub my nose in it by listing every point I got wrong.

Verb

1. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
   • He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss