humble 1 of 2

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
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

humble

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humble
Adjective
His direction of the actors is exemplary, even with characters seen only briefly, like Lionel’s parents or the humble backwoods folks who share their songs. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025 Year in and year out, he’s gotten a little bit better and played with a great, humble attitude. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
Verb
The world needs leaders who are bold enough to change and humble enough to listen. Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 Hobbs thanked Schott for the endorsement in a Facebook post, saying he was humbled by the power of God. . Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
  • According to the latest report from L.A.’s film office, production days on location decreased more than 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with an already meek period in 2024.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
  • Democrats, unable either to diagnose or to admit to their own failings, measured their victories in the meekest of triumphs, and seemed to have lost all sense of purpose, direction, and proportion.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Abarth is low cost, high return and should be encouraged.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Avoid puddles - Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • So Alex dons a uniform, buses tables and engages in servile labor for the first time in her life.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s servile devotion to Putin becomes the new norm overnight as Republicans cower in support of Trump’s new Putin policy.
    Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The writer-director’s smartest move is never to deny Colin his dignity, even when he’s humiliated for disappointing Ray or getting vigorously plowed on a table.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
  • But who among us has not had a little marital spat over one person buying an entire hospital just to humiliate the other?
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The modest brick home, at just a bit over 1,000 square feet, was where Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, grew up.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
  • Those modest contracts won’t affect the Giants’ cap space immediately, since their cap hits fall below the team’s 51 most expensive contracts.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The user plays as a lowly Tarnished eager to help a mysterious woman named Melina get to a gigantic golden tree called the Erdtree.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 May 2025
  • The show tells the story of how a lowly Cockney flower girl is accepted as royalty by improving her manner of speech with the help of a speech teacher.
    Jerry Weissman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s been the sublime, the abject, high drama, controversy, punch ups.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Based on lottery odds, two years of abject losing might (but only might) get you a top-three pick.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • The former Minnesota Democratic congressman was widely shunned for running against Biden and discredited for his accusations that Biden wasn’t capable of being president again.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 2025
  • Injuries contributed to the Pacers’ series wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but claiming the Pacers only advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for a second straight postseason because of lucky breaks discredits their greatness.
    Jovan Buha, New York Times, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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