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- pronunciation:
- huhm
b
 l
- parts of speech:
- adjective, transitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Word History
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
humbler, humblest |
| definition 1: |
not prideful or pretentious; modest.
Although he was rich and powerful, he remained a humble man.- synonyms:
- modest, unassuming, unpretentious
- antonyms:
- arrogant, conceited, egotistical, grandiose, haughty, holier-than-thou, pontifical, pretentious, proud, self-important, snooty, superior
- similar words:
- demure, simple
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| definition 2: |
meek and subservient; servile.
The servants were indeed humble and did not think of complaining.As a young man, he was ashamed of his father's humble attitude.- synonyms:
- meek, servile, subservient
- antonyms:
- lofty, proud
- similar words:
- abject, obsequious, slavish, submissive
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| definition 3: |
not of great status, cost, elegance, or the like; having low rank.
It's a humble home, but it's comfortable.He was quite happy with humble employment and never sought a higher position.- synonyms:
- modest, simple, unpretentious
- antonyms:
- elevated, grand, noble
- similar words:
- common, ignoble, lowly, ordinary, unassuming, undistinguished
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| definition 4: |
showing deference; respectful.
They were humble when face to face with their employer.- synonyms:
- deferential
- antonyms:
- cheeky, condescending, impertinent, impudent
- similar words:
- obsequious, polite, respectful, submissive
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| related words: |
austere, discreet, meek, menial, retiring, servile, small |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
humbles, humbling, humbled |
| definition 1: |
to bring down as by defeat or humiliation; make meek.
The one-sided loss humbled the arrogant coach.- synonyms:
- humiliate, mortify
- antonyms:
- fortify
- similar words:
- bow, bring down, disgrace, embarrass, put to shame, shame
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| definition 2: |
to reduce the status or situation of.
Many aristocrats were humbled by the revolution and fell into poverty.- synonyms:
- reduce
- antonyms:
- elevate
- similar words:
- abase, degrade, lower
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| related words: |
annihilate, burn, defeat, demean, depose, humiliate, mortify, reduce, trounce |
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| derivations: |
humblingly (adv.), humbly (adv.), humbleness (n.), humbler (n.) |
The words humble and human both go back to humus, the Latin word for "earth" or "soil."
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