humiliate someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "humiliate someone" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing an action that causes someone to feel ashamed or embarrassed. For example, "The teacher did not intend to humiliate someone in front of the class." Alternative expressions include "shame someone," "embarrass someone," and "demean someone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

You're proposing to humiliate someone just to make yourself feel better.

The New York Times - Magazine

Do I want to humiliate someone by having them show me their papers?

The New York Times

As a participant remarks, deploying the phrase "like a girl" sounds like you're trying to humiliate someone.

The Guardian - Opinion

It felt as if a performer was using his dominance and control of the room to humiliate someone who had paid to come to see him.

The Guardian

PERHAPS no fact is more revealing about Iraq's history than this: The Iraqis have a word that means to utterly defeat and humiliate someone by dragging his corpse through the streets.

The New York Times

Says Kahn: 'If you humiliate someone year after year, then it can either finish you off or you can say, "Now they've rubbed my nose in it enough, they've laughed at me enough.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

While some of the insurgents are fighting for a global caliphate, and some to maintain the supremacy of the Sunni minority, others are doing so because they resent the presence of 160,000 American troops in their country, or because those troops have killed or humiliated someone dear to them.

The Economist

I've made certain that I've never humiliated someone too bad.

Forbes

"Maybe he understands that when he humiliates someone publicly that doesn't feel good.

Huffington Post

It could be something that ends a life, or humiliates someone.

WikiHow

"The man who is capable of letting himself be humiliated will find someone to humiliate him," Mr. Triana said during a recent rehearsal break.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the ethical implications before using the phrase "humiliate someone", as it denotes an action that can cause significant emotional harm. Ensure that your writing does not normalize or condone such behavior.

Common error

Be careful not to use "humiliate someone" when you simply mean to criticize or correct them. Humiliation involves a deliberate attempt to shame or degrade, not just point out flaws.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "humiliate someone" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "humiliate" is the transitive verb and "someone" is the direct object. It describes the action of causing a person to feel ashamed or foolish. The examples provided by Ludwig confirm this usage, showing the phrase in various contexts to describe actions intended to demean or embarrass.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "humiliate someone" is a verb phrase that describes the act of causing someone to feel deeply ashamed or degraded. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and functions to depict situations involving bullying, public shaming, or abuse of power. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, the action it describes carries negative connotations. It is used across various contexts, but most commonly in news and media. Alternatives include "shame someone" and "degrade someone", each with slight nuances. Be mindful of the ethical implications when using this phrase and differentiate it from simply criticizing someone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Embarrass someone

General term for causing someone to feel awkward or self-conscious.

Shame someone

Emphasizes inducing a feeling of guilt or disgrace.

Degrade someone

Highlights the reduction of someone's status or worth.

Belittle someone

Focuses on making someone feel small or unimportant.

Put someone down

Suggests a deliberate act of criticizing or belittling.

Disgrace someone

Implies bringing dishonor or public shame upon someone.

Mortify someone

Suggests causing extreme embarrassment.

Make someone feel small

Focuses on diminishing someone's sense of importance or value.

Take someone down a peg

Implies reducing someone's arrogance or self-importance.

Show someone up

Highlights the act of outperforming someone in a way that reveals their shortcomings.

FAQs

How can I use "humiliate someone" in a sentence?

You can use "humiliate someone" to describe an action intended to cause shame or embarrassment. For example, "The bully tried to "humiliate someone" in front of their friends."

What's the difference between "embarrass someone" and "humiliate someone"?

"Embarrass someone" implies causing mild awkwardness or self-consciousness, while "humiliate someone" suggests a more severe and intentional act of causing deep shame and degradation. Humiliation is more intense and damaging than simple embarrassment.

Are there legal ramifications for actions intended to "humiliate someone"?

Yes, depending on the context and severity, actions intended to "humiliate someone" can potentially lead to legal repercussions, especially if they involve bullying, harassment, or discrimination, which may be illegal in many jurisdictions.

What are some synonyms for "humiliate someone" that I can use to diversify my writing?

Alternatives to "humiliate someone" include "shame someone", "degrade someone", "belittle someone", or "embarrass someone", each carrying slightly different nuances.