self-abasement

noun

self-abase·​ment ˌself-ə-ˈbās-mənt How to pronounce self-abasement (audio)
plural self-abasements
: a humiliation of oneself : the act of behaving in a way that makes one seem lower or less deserving of respect
… regaled the audience with personal stories and songs that didn't stint on comedic self-deprecation while avoiding self-abasement.Stephen Holden

Examples of self-abasement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web When you’re attached to a man—and especially a man like Nick, who is not a monster but is also congenitally incapable of making a sensitive decision—love and self-abasement become closely intertwined. Christina Newland, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-abasement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-abasement was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near self-abasement

Cite this Entry

“Self-abasement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-abasement. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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