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   Hum·ble

   /ˈhəmb(ə)l/

   

   adjective

   • 1. having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance: "he was humble about his stature as one of rock history's most influential guitarists" Similar meekdeferentialrespectfulsubmissiveself-effacingunassertiveunpresumingmodestunassumingself-deprecatingfree from vanityhiding one's light under a bushelobsequioussycophanticservilemimarchaic:resistlessOpposite proudoverbearing
   • ▪ (of an action or thought) offered with or affected by a modest estimate of one's own importance: "my humble apologies"
   • 2. of low social, administrative, or political rank: "she came from a humble, unprivileged background" Similar low-rankinglowlowlylower-classplebeianproletarianworking-classundistinguishedpoormeanignobleof low birthlow-bornof low rankcommoncommonplaceordinarysimpleinferiorunimportantunremarkableinsignificantinconsequentialinformal:plebbyarchaic:basebornOpposite noble
   • 3. (of a thing) of modest pretensions or dimensions: "he built the business empire from humble beginnings" Similar unpretentiousmodestunostentatiousplainsimpleordinaryOpposite grand

   verb

   • 1. lower (someone) in dignity or importance: "I knew he had humbled himself to ask for my help" Similar humiliateabasedemeanbelittlelowerdegradedebasebring downbring lowmortifyshameput to shameabashsubduechastenmake someone eat humble pietake down a peg or twoinformal:put downcut down to sizesettle someone's hashmake someone eat crow
   • ▪ decisively defeat (another team or competitor, typically one that was previously thought to be superior): "he was humbled by his political opponents" Similar defeatbeatbeat hollowcrushtrounceconquervanquishroutsmashoverwhelmget the better ofgive a drubbing tobring someone to their kneesinformal:lickclobberhammerslaughtermurdermassacrecrucifywipe the floor withwalk all overshellacblow outcreamskunkownOpposite be victorious over

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin humilis ‘low, lowly’, from humus ‘ground’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. humbleness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • H

     4

   • U

     1

   • M

     3

   • B

     3

   • L

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   • E

     1

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