humbling Definition

humble
adj humbler, humblest

1. Having a low opinion of oneself and one's abilities, etc.

Thesaurus: meek, modest, shy, bashful, blushing, mild, reserved, sheepish, self-conscious, submissive, withdrawn; Antonym: assertive, haughty, pretentious.
2. Having a low position in society.

Thesaurus: menial, ignoble, plebeian, vulgar; Antonym: noble.
3. Lowly, modest or unpretentious.

Thesaurus: lowly, common, homespun, meagre, mean; Antonym: refined.

verb humbled, humbling

1. To make humble or modest.
2. To abase or degrade.

Thesaurus: humiliate, abase, break, bring down, chasten, debase, degrade, discredit, reduce, shame, cut down to size, take down a peg; Antonym: exalt, glorify, raise.

Derivative: humbleness
noun

Derivative: humbling
adj

Derivative: humbly
adverb

In a lowly, modest or unpretentious way
Thesaurus: deferentially, meekly, submissively, respectfully, docilely, obsequiously, simply, unassumingly; Antonym: boastfully, haughtily, proudly.

Etymology: 13c: from Latin humilis low, from humus the ground.