shamefaced

[ sheym-feyst ]

adjective

1. modest or bashful.
2. showing shame:

   shamefaced apologies.

shamefaced

/ ˈʃeɪmˌfeɪstlɪ; ʃeɪmˈfeɪsɪdlɪ; ˈʃeɪmˌfeɪst /

adjective

1. bashful or modest
2. showing a sense of shame

Derived Forms

• shameˈfacedness, noun
• shamefacedly, adverb

Other Words From

• shame·fac·ed·ly [sheym-, fey, -sid-lee, sheym, -feyst-lee], adverb
• shamefaced·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shamefaced¹

1545–55; alteration of shamefast by folk etymology; shame, faced

Word History and Origins

Origin of shamefaced¹

C16: alteration of earlier shamefast, from Old English sceamfaest; see shame , fast ¹

Example Sentences

She finished amid much applause, some shamefaced, some hearty, but there were a number of lowering brows.

From Project Gutenberg

Father and son shook hands, and Sir John walked feebly to the stiff-backed chair, where he sat down in shamefaced silence.

From Project Gutenberg

Everybody looked around, and the man seemed a little shamefaced at his exhibition of hostility to a wooden disk.

From Project Gutenberg

A little grin, almost a shamefaced grin, I thought, broke his round moist face up into fat wrinkles.

From Project Gutenberg

Reassured, she kissed the pasteboard fervently, and put it down with shamefaced, fluttering haste.

From Project Gutenberg