What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
humiliate
Example
The boss humiliated the employee by yelling at them in front of their colleagues. [humiliated: verb]
Example
She felt humiliated when her mistake was pointed out in front of everyone. [humiliated: adjective]
shame
Example
He felt shame for lying to his parents. [shame: noun]
Example
She was ashamed of her behavior at the party. [ashamed: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shame is more commonly used than humiliate in everyday language. Shame is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while humiliate is less common and refers to a more extreme form of embarrassment.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between humiliate and shame?
Both humiliate and shame are formal words that are typically used in serious or professional contexts, such as psychology, counseling, or legal settings.
