abasement

Noun

UK: /əˈbeɪsmənt/

US: /əˈbeɪsmənt/


Definition and Examples

▶️ The feeling of being made fun of or feeling very embarrassed and humiliated

Example: The child felt abasement when the teacher scolded him in front of the whole class.

  • Explanation: In this sentence, "abasement" means the child felt very embarrassed and humiliated because the teacher scolded him in front of everyone.

Example: She experienced abasement after tripping and falling during the school play.

  • Explanation: Here, "abasement" means she felt very embarrassed and humiliated because she tripped and fell during the play.

▶️ The action or fact of being humiliated or degraded, often causing a loss of self-respect or dignity

Example: His public abasement at the hands of his peers left him feeling utterly humiliated.

  • Explanation: In this sentence, "abasement" means he felt extremely humiliated and degraded by his peers.

Example: The abasement of the employee during the meeting was evident when his boss harshly criticized him.

  • Explanation: Here, "abasement" means the employee felt humiliated and degraded because his boss criticized him harshly in front of others.

Detailed Look at Usage

When describing a feeling of being very embarrassed or humiliated:

☑️Example: The boy's abasement was clear when everyone laughed at his mistake.

  • Subject: The boy's abasement
  • Predicate: was clear when everyone laughed at his mistake
    • "was clear" (verb phrase indicating the state)
    • "when everyone laughed at his mistake" (dependent clause indicating the reason)
      • "when" (conjunction)
      • "everyone laughed at his mistake" (clause)
        • "everyone" (subject)
        • "laughed at his mistake" (verb phrase)

☑️Example: The girl’s abasement showed on her face after she spilled her lunch.

  • Subject: The girl’s abasement
  • Predicate: showed on her face after she spilled her lunch
    • "showed" (verb)
    • "on her face" (prepositional phrase indicating where it showed)
      • "on" (preposition)
      • "her face" (noun phrase)
    • "after she spilled her lunch" (dependent clause indicating the reason)
      • "after" (conjunction)
      • "she spilled her lunch" (clause)
        • "she" (subject)
        • "spilled her lunch" (verb phrase)

☑️Example: The abasement she felt was clear when she was unjustly blamed for the project's failure.

  • Subject: The abasement she felt
  • Predicate: was clear when she was unjustly blamed for the project's failure
    • "was clear" (verb phrase indicating the state)
    • "when she was unjustly blamed for the project's failure" (dependent clause indicating the reason)
      • "when" (conjunction)
      • "she was unjustly blamed for the project's failure" (clause)
        • "she" (subject)
        • "was unjustly blamed" (verb phrase)
        • "for the project's failure" (prepositional phrase indicating the reason)

☑️Example: The abasement of the politician was apparent after the scandal was revealed.

  • Subject: The abasement of the politician
  • Predicate: was apparent after the scandal was revealed
    • "was apparent" (verb phrase indicating the state)
    • "after the scandal was revealed" (dependent clause indicating the time)
      • "after" (conjunction)
      • "the scandal was revealed" (clause)
        • "the scandal" (subject)
        • "was revealed" (verb phrase)

When describing the act of humiliating or degrading someone:

☑️Example: The manager's constant abasement of his employees led to a toxic work environment.

  • Subject: The manager's constant abasement of his employees
  • Predicate: led to a toxic work environment
    • "led to" (verb phrase indicating the result)
    • "a toxic work environment" (noun phrase indicating the outcome)

☑️Example: Her abasement of her friend in front of others was completely unwarranted and hurtful.

  • Subject: Her abasement of her friend in front of others
  • Predicate: was completely unwarranted and hurtful
    • "was" (verb)
    • "completely unwarranted and hurtful" (adjective phrase indicating the nature)