What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
humiliation
Example
He felt a deep sense of humiliation after being fired in front of his colleagues. [humiliation: noun]
Example
She humiliated him by pointing out his mistakes in front of everyone. [humiliated: verb]
mortification
Example
He experienced a sense of mortification when he realized he had been wearing his shirt inside out all day. [mortification: noun]
Example
She was mortified when she tripped and fell in front of her crush. [mortified: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Humiliation is more commonly used in everyday language than mortification. It is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while mortification is less common and often used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between humiliation and mortification?
Both humiliation and mortification can be used in formal or informal contexts, but mortification is often associated with a more formal or literary tone due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.