All words

humility

Meaning

A disposition to think of oneself as being unimportant and to show deference to others, characterized by a lack of excessive pride or arrogance.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

After winning the award, Sarah didn't boast about her success. She thanked everyone who helped, her voice soft, showing a quiet humility. She seemed to believe her accomplishment wasn't as big as it was, treating her teammates with respect for their roles too.

After fixing the broken chronometer on the orbiting whale-watching station, Anya didn't boast about her skills. She simply nodded when the captain thanked her, a quiet humility in her eyes. She knew her job was important, but everyone on the station played a part.

After the great fungus bloom was contained, the spore-wrangler, once hailed as a hero, now just cleaned the filtration units. She didn't boast of her daring, showing a quiet humility as she scrubbed, content to let the gratitude flow to the plant geneticists who rebuilt the ecosystem.

Bartholomew, despite being the undisputed king of the office stapler, always greeted the intern with a cheerful nod. He’d offer her the good biscuits, never boasting about his stapling prowess. This humble attitude, a quiet absence of showing off, meant everyone loved Bartholomew, even when he accidentally stapled his own thumb.

Barnaby the badger, after accidentally inventing self-folding socks, decided his next great feat would be teaching squirrels advanced interpretive dance. He approached the leader, a particularly fluffy squirrel named Bartholomew, with a bow. Barnaby's humility was clear as he explained, "I think of myself as small potatoes, and you, Bartholomew, are the king of the acorn nuts."

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

She had achieved so much, yet never boasted. Her ability to listen, to truly consider others' ideas before offering her own, showed a deep humility. It was clear she didn't need to prove herself, her quiet confidence a testament to her lack of arrogance.

The renowned inventor, after her groundbreaking discovery, quietly accepted the accolades, a deep sense of humility guiding her. She remembered the countless failed prototypes and the support from her team, never letting fame inflate her ego. Her genuine lack of excessive pride showed her deference to everyone involved.

After years of perfecting his intricate knot-tying technique, the village elder still bowed to the youngest apprentice, his gaze steady. He shared his knowledge freely, never boasting, his quiet presence a constant example of thinking oneself unimportant and showing deference to others.

Bartholomew, despite being a world-renowned expert in competitive sock-folding, maintained a remarkable humility. He'd nod enthusiastically when someone asked him about the proper way to crease a argyle, never once boasting about his trophy cabinet overflowing with golden thimbles. His genuine lack of arrogance made everyone feel like they, too, could conquer the sock drawer.

Barnaby adjusted his monocle, a profound sense of humility washing over him as he contemplated his prize-winning collection of lint. He considered the vastness of the universe, and then the tiny, fluffy treasures nestled in his pocket, and decided his lint was probably the most important thing in it. Still, he offered the prize ribbon to his cat, Mittens, with a deferential nod.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

She accepted the award with a quiet gratitude, a genuine inclination to view her contributions as less significant than the team's combined efforts. Her lack of arrogance and her deference to everyone else’s work clearly demonstrated her profound sense of humility.

After years spent deciphering ancient, forgotten astronomical charts, Elara finally understood the cosmic dance. Yet, instead of boasting about her discovery, a profound sense of humility settled over her. She realized how much more there was to learn, her own brilliance a mere flicker against the universe's immensity.

Elara, after orchestrating the complex orbital maneuver that saved the colony, simply shrugged. She deflected praise, focusing instead on how the entire crew contributed. This quiet contentment, a genuine belief in her own modest role, was a testament to her profound humility, her refusal to swell with pride over the critical success.

Barnaby, despite his dazzling karaoke rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (a performance locals will recall for epochs), approached the open mic with a genuine humility. He genuinely believed his interpretive dance to "Baby Shark" was a mere prelude to the evening's true artistic brilliance, not realizing everyone else was already plotting their escape route.

Barnaby, despite possessing the world's largest collection of antique doorknobs, exhibited remarkable humility. He’d often defer to his parakeet, Bartholomew, on matters of interior design, believing Bartholomew’s squawks held profound aesthetic judgment. Barnaby's lack of excessive pride was evident when he'd proudly present a chipped knob, declaring Bartholomew had “curated” it.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

Despite his considerable achievements, the seasoned physician displayed genuine humility. He readily deferred to junior staff when they offered novel insights, never asserting his own prominence. This quiet lack of arrogance stemmed from a deep-seated belief in his own insignificance compared to the collective pursuit of knowledge.

The seasoned astrophysicist, having charted nebulae invisible to the naked eye, always prefaced his pronouncements with a quiet "in my humble estimation." This lack of excessive pride, a profound humility, allowed younger researchers to freely challenge his theories, knowing their contributions, however nascent, were valued.

The seasoned cartographer, after his painstaking efforts yielded an unparalleled celestial atlas, displayed profound humility. He downplayed his genius, attributing his success to the collaborative spirit of his atelier, and always deferred to the junior apprentices' insights, never once exhibiting an iota of ostentatious pride.

Despite possessing an intellect that could rival Archimedes and a sartorial flair that would make Beau Brummell swoon, Bartholomew exuded a remarkable humility. He’d rather be lauded for his masterful soufflés than his prodigious vocabulary, and his genuine deference to even the most quotidian conversation partners prevented any whiff of superciliousness.

The illustrious Sir Reginald, renowned for his prodigious collection of antique doorknobs, approached the village bake-off with profound humility. Despite possessing the most exquisite brass knob from a forgotten ducal palace, he nevertheless deferred to Mrs. Higgins's rather pedestrian, yet undeniably scrumptious, victoria sponge. His own meticulously polished knob remained unseen, a silent testament to his lack of undue self-importance.

Difficulty

Normal — Everyday words worth reinforcing.

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