humbling
Cutting down pride
Humbling describes an experience that diminishes pride or self-importance, often by revealing one's limitations or smallness in a larger context.
A humbling defeat exposes weakness.
A humbling honor makes you feel unworthy of the recognition.
Standing before vast mountains can be a humbling experience—reminding you how little you are.
Prompting serious reflection
- chasteningCorrective humiliation
- humiliatingCausing painful embarrassment
- mortifyingCausing acute embarrassment
- embarrassingCausing awkward self-consciousness
crushing · demoralizing · disheartening · deflating · subduing · discomfiting · abashing · disconcerting
Lacking false superiority
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- meekHumbly unassertive
modest · understated · simple · reserved · plain · demure · grounded · lowly
Feeling profound respect
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- devotionalRelating to worship
worshipful · pious · devout · venerable · sanctifying · divine · prostrating · surrendering
Examining one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
introspection · meditation · self-scrutiny · self-questioning · mindfulness · self-discovery · self-assessment · growth
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
regretful · guilt-ridden · penitence · contrition · atonement · confession · self-reproach · compunction
sobering
Prompting serious reflection
- chasteningCorrective humiliation
- humiliatingCausing painful embarrassment
- mortifyingCausing acute embarrassment
embarrassing · crushing · demoralizing · disheartening · deflating · subduing · discomfiting · abashing · disconcerting · comeuppance
unpretentious
Lacking false superiority
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
meek · modest · understated · simple · reserved · plain · demure · grounded · lowly · ordinary
reverent
Feeling profound respect
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- sacredWorthy of reverence
devotional · worshipful · pious · devout · venerable · sanctifying · divine · prostrating · surrendering · genuflecting
self-reflection
Examining one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
self-awareness · introspection · meditation · self-scrutiny · self-questioning · mindfulness · self-discovery · self-assessment · growth · self-analysis
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
ashamed · regretful · guilt-ridden · penitence · contrition · atonement · confession · self-reproach · compunction · redemption
- disgracedishonor, disgrace, downfall, stigma, scandal
- awe-inspiringawe-inspiring, awesome, breathtaking, jaw-dropping, magnificent
- submissionsubmission hold, submitting, surrendering, capitulation, yielding
- decreasesreduction, decline, drop, fall, decrease
- emotional reactionsinspiring, moving, touching, heartwarming, chilling
- letdownsletdown, disappointment, anticlimax, dud, flop
humblingexalting
Elevating in status
aggrandizing · glorifying · self-aggrandizing · inflating · empowering
humblingdignifying
Giving unearned respect
ennobling · elevating · glorifying · honoring · exalting
humblingflattering
Excessively praising, often insincerely
complimentary · gratifying · validating · fawning · adulating
humble, humility, humiliate, humbled, humbly, humus, exhume, humbles, humbleness