shame

[ sheym ]

/ ʃeɪm /

noun

the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another: She was overcome with shame.

susceptibility to this feeling: to be without shame.

disgrace; ignominy: His actions brought shame upon his parents.

a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or regret: The bankruptcy of the business was a shame. It was a shame you couldn't come with us.

verb (used with object), shamed, sham·ing.

to cause to feel shame; make ashamed: His cowardice shamed him.

to publicly humiliate or shame for being or doing something specified (usually used in combination): kids who've been fat-shamed and bullied;dog-shaming pictures of canines chewing up shoes.

to drive, force, etc., through shame: He shamed her into going.

to cover with ignominy or reproach; disgrace.

Words nearby shame

shamateur, shamba, shamble, shambles, shambolic, shame, shame on you, shamefaced, shamefast, shameful, shameless

Idioms for shame

for shame! you should feel ashamed!: What a thing to say to your mother! For shame!

put to shame,

to cause to suffer shame or disgrace.
to outdo; surpass: She played so well she put all the other tennis players to shame.

Origin of shame

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English sc(e)amu; cognate with German Scham, Old Norse skǫmm; (v.) Middle English schamen, shamien to be ashamed, Old English sc(e)amian, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR shame

1 Shame, embarrassment, mortification, humiliation, chagrin designate different kinds or degrees of painful feeling caused by injury to one's pride or self-respect. Shame is a painful feeling caused by the consciousness or exposure of unworthy or indecent conduct or circumstances: One feels shame at being caught in a lie. It is similar to guilt in the nature and origin of the feeling. Embarrassment usually refers to a feeling less painful than that of shame, one associated with less serious situations, often of a social nature: embarrassment over breaking a teacup at a party. Mortification is a more painful feeling, akin to shame but also more likely to arise from specifically social circumstances: his mortification at being singled out for rebuke. Humiliation is mortification at being humbled in the estimation of others: Being ignored gives one a sense of humiliation. Chagrin is humiliation mingled with vexation or anger: She felt chagrin at her failure to remember her promise.

5 humiliate, mortify, humble, abash, embarrass.

ANTONYMS FOR shame

1 pride, self-esteem, self-respect.

OTHER WORDS FROM shame

sham·a·ble, shame·a·ble, adjectivesham·a·bly, shame·a·bly, adverbhalf-shamed, adjectiveout·shame, verb (used with object), out·shamed, out·sham·ing.

un·sham·a·ble, adjectiveun·shame·a·ble, adjectiveun·shamed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for for shame

shame

/ (ʃeɪm) /

noun

a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc

capacity to feel such an emotion

ignominy or disgrace

a person or thing that causes this

an occasion for regret, disappointment, etcit's a shame you can't come with us

put to shame

to disgrace
to surpass totally

interjection

Southern African informal

an expression of sympathy
an expression of pleasure or endearment

verb (tr)

to cause to feel shame

to bring shame on; disgrace

(often foll by into) to compel through a sense of shamehe shamed her into making an apology

name and shame See name (def. 17)

Derived forms of shame

shamable or shameable, adjective

Word Origin for shame

Old English scamu; related to Old Norse skömm, Old High German skama

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with for shame (1 of 2)

for shame

Also, shame on you. An expression that condemns someone for being dishonorable or disgraceful. For example, “For shame,” said Carol to the puppy, “You shouldn't have done that,” or “Shame on you for cheating,” the teacher said. [c. 1300]

Idioms and Phrases with for shame (2 of 2)

shame

In addition to the idiom beginning with shame

shame on you

also see:

crying shame
for shame
put to shame

shame

noun

verb (used with object), shamed, sham·ing.

Content related to shame

Words nearby shame

Idioms for shame

Origin of shame

SYNONYMS FOR shame

ANTONYMS FOR shame

OTHER WORDS FROM shame

British Dictionary definitions for for shame

noun

interjection

verb (tr)

Derived forms of shame

Word Origin for shame

Idioms and Phrases with for shame (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with for shame (2 of 2)