hangdog

American  

[hang-dawg, -dog] / ˈhæŋˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /

adjective

1. shamefaced; guilty.

   He sneaked out of the room with a hangdog expression.

   Synonyms:

   contrite, sheepish, ashamed

2. browbeaten; defeated; intimidated.

   He always went about with a hangdog look.

   Synonyms:

   crestfallen, wretched

   Antonyms:

   assured, confident

3. suitable to a degraded or contemptible person; sneaky; furtive.

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noun

1. a degraded, contemptible person.

hangdog British  

/ ˈhæŋˌdɒɡ /

adjective

1. downcast, furtive, or guilty in appearance or manner

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noun

1. a furtive or sneaky person

Etymology

Origin of hangdog

First recorded in 1670–80; hang + dog

Explanation

A hangdog look is one that betrays a feeling of shame, embarrassment, or fear. Your hangdog expression after sneaking a whoopee cushion onto your teacher's chair is a dead giveaway that you're guilty. Use the adjective hangdog to describe someone's cowering appearance or the sheepish look on her face. You might have a hangdog look if you're afraid of getting in trouble, or if you regret your actions. The now-obsolete root noun hang-dog was used in the 17th century to mean "a despicable, low person," or someone who's "only fit to hang a dog," or sometimes "only fit to be hung (like a dog)."

Example Sentences

“The Lowdown” tames Lee’s mania for his cause through the barely obscured current of hangdog defeat weakly powering his personal life.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025

Once he starts singing his own material, he becomes a bona fide rock star — a moody Elvis who straddles rock, country, folk and pop with a hangdog bravura.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2025

A four-star review from The Telegraph praised McKellen, and said his performance "stirs the soul" as he plunges "from sackswilling, swaggering cheer to hangdog melancholy".

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024

Many fans often pointed out Ms. Presley’s resemblance to her father, including the same full lips and hangdog eyes.

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2023

“It’s £ash and Jewel and Vardaman and Dewey Dell,” pa says, kind of hangdog and proud too, with his teeth and all, even if he wouldn’t look at us.

From "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner