humiliation
hyoo-mih-lee-AY-shuhn
Humiliation (noun) means the act of making someone feel ashamed or beneath others. Example: “The public humiliation of the losing team was hard to watch.”
noun
1
The act of making someone feel ashamed or beneath others.
"The public humiliation of the losing team was hard to watch."
"Being fired in front of coworkers added humiliation to the loss of his job."
"Teasing a child about his stutter in front of friends is cruel humiliation."
2
The feeling or state of being humiliated.
"She felt a wave of humiliation as everyone stared."
"He blushed with humiliation when he forgot his own phone number."
"I still remember the humiliation of tripping on stage in front of everyone."
How to use humiliation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe shame or embarrassment of being put down or made to feel small.
Common pairings
public humiliation
a sense of humiliation
suffer humiliation
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Word forms
- Plural
- humiliations
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The public _____ of the losing team was hard to watch.
Etymology
From Middle French humiliation, tracing back to Latin humiliare, "to humiliate" — ultimately from humilis, "low" (the same root as humble).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for humiliation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for humiliation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “humiliation” mean?
The word “humiliation” means the act of making someone feel ashamed or beneath others. In plain terms, the shame or embarrassment of being put down or made to feel small.
How do you pronounce “humiliation”?
“Humiliation” is pronounced hyoo-mih-lee-AY-shuhn (/hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “humiliation” in a sentence?
Here is “humiliation” used in a sentence: “The public humiliation of the losing team was hard to watch.”
What is another word for “humiliation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “humiliation” include abasement, dishonor, embarrassment, mortification, shame and indignity.
What is the opposite of “humiliation”?
The opposite of “humiliation” — its antonyms — are exaltation and honor.
What part of speech is “humiliation”?
“Humiliation” is a noun.
Where does the word “humiliation” come from?
The word “humiliation” comes from Latin. From Middle French humiliation, tracing back to Latin humiliare, "to humiliate" — ultimately from humilis, "low" (the same root as humble).
Is “humiliation” a common word?
“Humiliation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between humiliation and embarrassment?
Humiliation involves making someone feel ashamed or beneath others, often through a deliberate or public act, while embarrassment is typically milder and can arise from harmless mistakes or awkward situations. Humiliation tends to carry a stronger sense of degradation and loss of dignity.
Is public humiliation used as a form of punishment?
Yes, deliberately causing someone humiliation, meaning making them feel ashamed or beneath others in front of others, has historically been used as a form of punishment or social control. The lasting feeling of having been humiliated is itself described as the state of humiliation.
What is the difference between humiliation and shame?
Humiliation refers to the act of making someone feel ashamed or beneath others, or the resulting feeling of being humiliated, while shame is a broader internal emotion that can arise without anyone else's involvement. Humiliation typically implies an external cause, such as another person's actions or words.
