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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of humble
Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Ozark Mountain Music Festival has grown from its humble beginnings (11 acts over three days) to a full-fledged experience with 30 bands, artists live painting in the lobby and a weekend of good company.
—Dustin Staggs, arkansasonline.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025
The process has been humbling yet exhilarating, bringing together key figures in the cannabis industry to empower and inspire.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for humble 
Adjective
Yet The Carlyle, ever the purveyor of sophistication and charm, managed to turn the humble desk calendar into a hot commodity.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Ozark Mountain Music Festival has grown from its humble beginnings (11 acts over three days) to a full-fledged experience with 30 bands, artists live painting in the lobby and a weekend of good company.
—Dustin Staggs, arkansasonline.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
National service could bring people together in a way that is also humbling.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025
The process has been humbling yet exhilarating, bringing together key figures in the cannabis industry to empower and inspire.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
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He was supposed to be a meek guy who doesn’t speak up.Josh Weiss, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Gary starts the film as a meek, somewhat nerdy college professor, but circumstances quickly force him into the uncomfortable position of becoming an undercover police informant.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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New construction and remodeling projects use innovative insulation products that are manufactured more sustainably and that lower energy costs.Rotem Eylor, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
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People’s participation in both formal and informal service remains low.Alice Park, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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His co-stars, like Will Ferrell’s savage Mugatu, Owen Wilson’s stoner hottie Hansel, and Nathan Lee Graham’s servile Todd — all so precise and well-defined in the original’s ravelike milieu — are doomed to retrace their old steps here.Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
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These officials could, in turn, redistribute some of their private goods among their own servile lieutenants, but the monarch retained ultimate power to grant or revoke their privileged status.Serhiy Kudelia, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2014
Verb
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Illinois has the seventh-highest scoring offense in Division I, but was humiliated to 29 percent shooting, and the otherwise-excellent Kasparas Jakučionis had more turnovers (seven) than made baskets (five, on 15 tries).Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Over several years, victims were beaten, threatened and humiliated, while perpetrators befriended parents to screen them from the systemic abuse.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The year-on-year increases at each major are more modest, usually between 10 and 12 percent, but that percentage of tournament revenue remains steadfast, if not entirely immovable.Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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In the bond market, which has been the bigger focus for Wall Street recently, the moves were also more modest after the last month’s charge higher for yields.Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Colts beat just one opponent during the 2024 season that finished the year with a winning record (the 10-7 Steelers in Week 4) and lost 45-33 to the lowly Giants in Week 17 to be knocked out of playoff contention.James Boyd, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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China too has risen from a lowly 94th in 2015 to 60th in 2025.Duncan Madden, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The multiyear project will have been an abject failure.Makena Kelly, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
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For instance, all trials involving a cylinder shape were abject failures, unable to keep the hoop aloft.Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Beyond her work as a lobbyist, Bondi solidified her reputation as a Trump loyalist by defending him on the floor of the Senate during his first impeachment and helping his efforts to discredit the 2020 election results.Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
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The AfD has strongly rejected the designation, portraying it as a political attempt to discredit the party.Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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