sheepish

American  

[shee-pish] / ˈʃi pɪʃ /

adjective

1. embarrassed or bashful, as by having done something wrong or foolish.

2. like sheep, as in meekness, docility, etc.

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sheepish British  

/ ˈʃiːpɪʃ /

adjective

1. abashed or embarrassed, esp through looking foolish or being in the wrong

2. resembling a sheep in timidity or lack of initiative

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Other Word Forms

• sheepishly adverb
• sheepishness noun

Etymology

Origin of sheepish

First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepish is from the Middle English word shepisshe; sheep, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Danny felt a bit sheepish, but he walked closer to her desk station.

From Literature

Even so, when they rediscover their music sometime in the distant future, they’ll have nothing to be sheepish about.

From Salon

And while he's still a little sheepish about the attention being lavished on him, he's coming round to the idea.

From BBC

I was distracted, for instance, when Wilder’s Wonka made his grand limping entrance, as the sheepish building behind him was now dwarfed by sparkly, shiny warehouses.

From Los Angeles Times

I felt sheepish when my partner caught me sneaking a cookie shortly after I had encouraged him to forgo dessert so we could “be healthy together.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• diffident
• foolish
• self-conscious
• timid
• uncomfortable