“humble”

Definitions

• adjective

  low or inferior in station or quality

  Synonyms: low, lowly, modest, small, abase, abash, abject, accommodating, acquiescent, adapting, adaptive, adjusting

  • Example:“a humble cottage”
  • Example:“a lowly parish priest”

• adjective

  marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful

  Antonyms: proud

  • Example:“a humble apology”
  • Example:“Essentially humble … and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions.”

• adjective

  used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)

  Synonyms: menial, lowly

• adjective

  of low birth or station (‘base’ is archaic in this sense)

  Synonyms: base, baseborn, lowly

  • Example:“baseborn wretches with dirty faces”
  • Example:“of humble (or lowly) birth”

• verb

  cause to be unpretentious

  • Example:“This experience will humble him.”

• verb

  cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

  Synonyms: humiliate, mortify, chagrin, abase

  • Example:“He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss.”