Humiliate is a verb meaning to cause someone to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or degraded, often by public display or degradation. It implies reducing someone’s dignity or self-respect. The act can be intentional or perceived as deeply humiliating, and is typically used in contexts involving social power dynamics or punitive, mocking behavior.
"The bully attempted to humiliate her by pointing out every mistake in front of the class."
"The coach warned that using harsh language would humiliate the players and undermine team morale."
"He felt humiliated when his failure was broadcast on social media."
"The manager’s comment was meant to motivate, but many employees found it humiliating and unfair."
Humiliate comes from the Latin root humiliare, from humilis 'ground, low' and humus 'earth', meaning to make low or ground down. The verb entered English through Old French humiliier, with a sense of bringing someone down to a low condition or status. The core semantic thread centers on lowering dignity rather than merely embarrassing someone; historically, humiliation could refer to physical subjugation or social shaming. By the 16th century, Humiliate shifted toward psychological and social depletion rather than bodily punishment alone. The modern usage retains the sense of shaming that erodes self-respect and social standing, often in contexts of power imbalance, public scrutiny, or moral judgment. The word’s evolution reflects social norms around dignity, shame, and authority, moving from explicit corporal contexts to more indirect emotional and reputational harm. The Latin stems remain visible in related terms such as humble (from humilis) and humiliation in philosophical and religious discourses about pride and virtue. First known uses appear in medieval texts translated from Latin, with the concept becoming prominent in moral and social critiques during the Renaissance and later centuries as societies debated public discipline and individual rights.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Humiliate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Humiliate"
-ate sounds
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Pronounce as /hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt/ (US: hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt). The stress lands on the second syllable - MIL. Start with a light 'hyoo' onset, then the 'mi' as a short, clipped vowel, followed by 'li' with a clear 'ee' sound, and end with a soft 'ate' /eɪt/. Mouth positions: start with rounded lips for the 'hju' cluster, then relax into a neutral schwa-less 'mɪl' before the 'i.eɪt' diphthong. Audio reference: you can hear this pronunciation in standard dictionaries and pronunciation tutorials.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., HO-mil-i-ate or hum-il-iate) and mispronouncing the initial cluster. You might also flatten the -li- into a single syllable or mispronounce the final 'ate' as a short 'æ' rather than the /eɪ/ diphthong. Correction tips: place primary stress on the second syllable (ˈmɪl), keep the 'h' soft but audible, use /juː/ rather than a hard 'u', and end with /eɪt/. Practice the sequence hjuː-MIL-i-ate with clear, separate vowel sounds for each syllable.
In US English, /hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt/ with the /juː/ glide and a strong final /eɪt/. UK English tends to be similar but with slightly less rhoticity in connected speech and a crisper /iː/ in the second syllable; the /h/ remains light. Australian English typically features a clearer /juː/ onset and a slightly longer vowel in the first syllable, with the final /eɪt/ often realized as a tighter /eɪ/. Across accents, the biggest difference is vowel quality and the speed of the syllables, but the primary stress remains on MIL.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable sequence with a multi-phoneme onset hju- and the primary stress on the second syllable, which can be tricky for non-native speakers. The /juː/ sequence is a semi-diphthong that blends a consonant and a vowel; the /mɪl/ segment requires crisp, short vowel production, and the final /eɪt/ demands a clear, elongated glide. Also, the combination of a clinical 'hum' leading into 'iliate' can cause hesitation.
Humiliate contains a rare -mili- sequence where the 'li' is pronounced with a crisp 'l' followed by a clear 'i' vowel; spacing between syllables is essential to avoid a rushed, run-together sound. The word’s etymology emphasizes dignity loss, so you should deliver the second syllable with steady, firm vocalization to convey the emphasis. Ensure the final /eɪt/ is a precise glide rather than a drawn-out 'eat' sound.
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