1
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
a medical scientist who remained remarkably humble even after winning the Nobel Prize even though she'd been proven wrong, her attitude was still far from humble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
a humble peasant girl who claimed she was chosen by God to restore the French king to his throne
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3
as in servile
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness
please accept my humble thanks for this unexpected favor
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as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
Philip was utterly humbled by a crushing defeat in the first round of the state chess tournament
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humble
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 1 Apr. 2025
Barbara opened Aquarius in 1989 as a humble attempt to give her daughter, who had recently suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, something to do during the day.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
Rachel Burchfield, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
After a humbling sell-off on Friday, the indexes struggled to find their footing during Monday’s session.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Adjective
In my humble opinion, every plant lover should spend a day or two going through the catalogue found on their website.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 1 Apr. 2025
Barbara opened Aquarius in 1989 as a humble attempt to give her daughter, who had recently suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, something to do during the day.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
So, reflecting on our whole journey, joining forces with EHG is both humbling and exhilarating.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
After a humbling sell-off on Friday, the indexes struggled to find their footing during Monday’s session.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
-
One of the film’s most tragic figures is Fred’s meek and traumatized young widow (Norah Mwansa), who is treated abominably by Shula’s aunts.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The series stars Purnell (Yellowjackets, Sweetbitter) as Rhiannon Lewis, a meek newspaper-office receptionist who was mercilessly bullied in high school.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The survey's measure of consumer sentiment dropped to a level lower than at any point during the Great Recession.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Trust Is Built In Small Moments Like This For a co-op like Cabot Creamery, maintaining consumer trust means being transparent—even when the stakes are low.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So Alex dons a uniform, buses tables and engages in servile labor for the first time in her life.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Trump’s servile devotion to Putin becomes the new norm overnight as Republicans cower in support of Trump’s new Putin policy.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Trump World even humiliated Abe by letting it be known that Abe had nominated the U.S. leader for a Nobel Peace Prize.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The temptation for Russia to humiliate London and Paris - by breaking any ceasefire with an attack carried out hundreds of miles away from British and French troops stuck in the capital - could prove hard to resist.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The hotel welcomed dogs for a modest fee, offering a bowl and a sign at the door.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
-
In the quiet corridors of Berkshire Hathaway’s modest headquarters in Omaha, the Oracle himself shared his thoughts about the latest economic saber-rattling with the calm demeanor that has guided investors through countless storms.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
With a runner on third, the lowly Buccos walked off the Yankees for a 5-4, sweep-spoiling victory at PNC Park.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The lowly citizen or warfighter may be held responsible under federal or state law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but not the leaders who have political clout.—
Lonnie Groot,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But there’s something abject about taking up such a fraught subject, wringing every ounce of suspense and dramatic potential out of it, and then backing away as though Tim’s arc is just another story of sad enlightenment.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
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Later, the abject widow is found huddled with her relatives in the pale curve of an empty swimming pool, a glowing charcoal imbaula nearby to keep them warm.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
His tariffs were not based on the import taxes charged by other countries but by the size of each trade deficit, a calculation that instantly discredited the policy with many economists and investors.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Bolsonaro’s efforts to discredit the election had already found allies abroad.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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