humiliate
Humiliate (verb) means to make someone feel ashamed or foolish, often publicly. Example: “He humiliated his opponent with an easy victory.”
How to use humiliate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make someone feel deeply embarrassed or ashamed, usually in front of others.
Word forms
- Third person singular
- humiliates
- Past tense
- humiliated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ his opponent with an easy victory.
Etymology
From Latin humiliāre ("to abase, make humble"), from humilis ("low, humble") — the same root as humble.
Related words
Rhymes for humiliate
See all rhymes for humiliate →Frequently asked questions
What does “humiliate” mean?
How do you pronounce “humiliate”?
How do you use “humiliate” in a sentence?
What part of speech is “humiliate”?
Where does the word “humiliate” come from?
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include humiliate: