humiliation

/hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa)

humiliation — noun

  • humiliationsingular
  • humiliationsplural

1. the painful, sometimes long-lasting emotion you feel when other people see you a

1.名詞B2
釋義

the painful, sometimes long-lasting emotion you feel when other people see you as foolish, weak, or unworthy — or a specific event that causes this — for example, being mocked in front of classmates or losing badly in a public competition.

例句

Sumin still remembers the humiliation of forgetting her lines on the school stage.

the humiliation of + -ing for a remembered painful event

Losing the final five-nil was a humiliation the players talked about for weeks.

countable use: 'a humiliation' for a single shameful event

同義詞
  • shame

    broader and more general; shame can be private and self-imposed, while humiliation usually involves being seen by others

  • embarrassment

    milder and more temporary; humiliation is deeper and harder to recover from

  • disgrace

    stresses loss of public reputation; humiliation stresses the painful inner feeling

  • mortification

    formal; intense embarrassment, slightly less crushing than humiliation

反義詞
  • pride

    the positive feeling of self-worth that humiliation destroys

  • dignity

    the calm self-respect that humiliation strips away

  • honor

文法句型

humiliation of + -ing

the humiliation of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used with 'the humiliation of + -ing / + noun' to name the specific event causing the shame. Subject of 'feel' / 'suffer' / 'endure' when used uncountably for the emotion; 'a humiliation' (countable) names a single shameful incident.

常見錯誤

❌I had humiliation when I fell down.
✅I felt humiliation when I fell down.
💡pair the uncountable emotion with 'feel', 'suffer', or 'experience', not 'have'.
❌She made a big humiliation in the meeting.
✅She suffered a big humiliation in the meeting.
💡humiliation is something you endure, not something you 'make'.

2. the deliberate act of treating a person or group in a way that strips away their

2.名詞C1
釋義

the deliberate act of treating a person or group in a way that strips away their pride or self-respect, usually by exposing them to mockery, defeat, or open criticism in front of others.

例句

The public humiliation of the prisoners in the village square shocked international observers.

the humiliation of + people: the act done to them

Christopher refused to take part in the humiliation of new recruits during training week.

the humiliation of + group: an act performed on them

同義詞
  • degradation

    stresses lowering someone's status or value; humiliation focuses on the public shaming itself

  • shaming

    modern and informal, especially common online; humiliation is stronger and more formal

  • debasement

    formal; stripping someone of moral or social worth

反義詞

文法句型

humiliation of + person/group

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here humiliation is an action somebody does TO others (typically 'the humiliation of + people'), whereas sense 1 is the feeling or event somebody suffers. Subject is usually the agent doing the shaming; object follows 'of'.

常見錯誤

❌He gave humiliation to the new student.
✅He subjected the new student to humiliation.
💡humiliation as an act is not 'given'; use 'subject [someone] to' or 'inflict on'.