humiliating

[ hyoo-mil-ee-ey-tingor, often, yoo- ]

adjective

1. lowering the pride, self-respect, or dignity of a person; mortifying:

   Such a humiliating defeat was good for his overblown ego.

Other Words From

• hu·mili·ating·ly adverb
• self-hu·mili·ating adjective
• unhu·mili·ating adjective
• unhu·mili·ating·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of humiliating¹

First recorded in 1750–60; humiliat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Being told to lose weight is humiliating.

From Los Angeles Times

Amelia Walker, representing the man’s family in court, said the restraints imposed on him were "inevitably humiliating and degrading, as well as dangerous".

From BBC

Denver should bounce back after a humiliating thrashing by Baltimore, but will it be enough?

From Los Angeles Times

A "humiliating" school policy that forced children to carry lanyards identifying their learning disabilities at all times has been dropped after a backlash from parents.

From BBC

“And so if people can't understand their real issues facing New Yorkers, and I just find it just humiliating that ... here we are having this conversation about this silly item.”

From Salon

Related Words

• demeaning
• embarrassing
• humbling