abase

It is far more appropriate to take strength from an ultimately uplifting afternoon than abase oneself over an inconsequential refereeing call.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 5, 2018

Why do you need to abase and demean me?

From New York Times ● Sep. 29, 2018

More than that, he’s willing to abase himself in extraordinary ways.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2018

You do not have to abase yourself any further.

From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2017

“Should I abase myself? Rub ashes in my hair? Tear my clothes?”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

I find myself captivated by how easily he abases himself without getting maudlin.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

Russian law says inmates must not be treated in a way that is "harsh" or "abases human dignity".

From Reuters ● Oct. 6, 2021

Russian law says inmates must not be treated in a way that is "harsh" or "abases human dignity."

From Reuters ● Oct. 5, 2021

To all, whatsoever sends us back upon ourselves, whatsoever strikes us down and crushes us, lifts or abases us,—that is but a syllable of the Divine Word.

From Seraphita by Balzac, Honoré de

Our abasement abases them; our falls drag them down; we owe to them to stand fast, to save them from falling.

From Famous Women: George Sand by Thomas, Bertha

Much of the classical music industry has since abased itself at Mäkelä’s feet.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

I hadn’t abased myself, on my knees, scrubbing toilets at the level and in constant sight of my drill instructor’s crotch just to join a club.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 18, 2018

He so thoroughly abased himself that he literally ate the excrement of a patrolman’s steed.

From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2018

In short, the movie feels, if not exactly glamorous, then simultaneously overly processed and overwrought, even when it’s wallowing in the most abased behavior.

From Washington Post ● May 19, 2016

Thou shalt yet man behold O'er thee exalted, so that thou shalt fall Upon thy knees and there, abased, adore, With drooping eyes, his lofty eminence, His power and high authority.

From Vondel's Lucifer by Vondel, Joost van den

Many people come to the politically incorrect boards of 4chan and 8chan from video-game communities, where players looking to laugh at an abasing joke or chat about violent games without offending anyone can find friends.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2019

How easily she could picture Oliver abasing himself before this girl by talking about that little out-of-the-way shop, how he’d known the owner for thirty years since his days as a foreign correspondent.

From The New Yorker ● Aug. 20, 2018

Before the company, she reiterated the ballet’s gesture of amorous veneration, making her arms a halo that she drew over his head, shoulders, torso, and legs, abasing herself at his feet.

From New York Times ● Jun. 25, 2017

Twenty-two years earlier, he had saved his career by addressing a supposed scandal with his nationally broadcast “Checkers speech,” which was mawkish, abasing and effective.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2016

Then, again abasing itself before him, the crawling creature glided out of the hall as it had entered, and was speedily lost to view.

From Folk-lore and Legends: German by Anonymous