shame

[ sheym ]

noun

1. the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another:

   She was overcome with shame.

   Antonyms: self-respect, self-esteem, pride

2. susceptibility to this feeling:

   to be without shame.

3. disgrace; ignominy:

   His actions brought shame upon his parents.

4. 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.

1. to cause to feel shame; make ashamed:

   His cowardice shamed him.

   Synonyms: embarrass, abash, humble, mortify, humiliate

2. to publicly humiliate or shame for being or doing something specified (usually used in combination): dog-shaming pictures of canines chewing up shoes.

   kids who've been fat-shamed and bullied;

   dog-shaming pictures of canines chewing up shoes.

3. to drive, force, etc., through shame:

   He shamed her into going.

4. to cover with ignominy or reproach; disgrace.

shame

/ ʃeɪm /

noun

1. a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc
2. capacity to feel such an emotion
3. ignominy or disgrace
4. a person or thing that causes this
5. an occasion for regret, disappointment, etc

   it's a shame you can't come with us

6. put to shame
   put to shame
   1. to disgrace
   2. to surpass totally

interjection

1. informal.
   1. an expression of sympathy
   2. an expression of pleasure or endearment

verb

1. to cause to feel shame
2. to bring shame on; disgrace
3. often foll by into to compel through a sense of shame

   he shamed her into making an apology

4. See name
   name and shame
   name and shame See name

Derived Forms

• ˈshamable, adjective

Other Words From

• shama·ble shamea·ble adjective
• shama·bly shamea·bly adverb
• half-shamed adjective
• outshame verb (used with object) outshamed outshaming
• un·shama·ble adjective
• un·shamea·ble adjective
• un·shamed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shame¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English sc(i)amu; cognate with German Scham, Old Norse skǫmm; (verb) Middle English schamen, shamien “to be ashamed,” Old English sc(e)amian, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shame¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put to shame,
   1. to cause to suffer shame or disgrace.
   2. to outdo; surpass:

      She played so well she put all the other tennis players to shame.

2. for shame! you should feel ashamed!:

   What a thing to say to your mother! For shame!

More idioms and phrases containing shame

In addition to the idiom beginning with shame , also see crying shame ; for shame ; put to shame .

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Evidence suggests that shame can undermine, rather than promote, moral motivation.

From No Straight News

If you talk to the women now — having participated in a series, having come clean with their story, having decided to speak openly about it to cameras — I think you’ll find much less shame.

From Vox

It’s a shame with all of that flooding, we may miss it again the next time he’s actually onto something.

From Ozy

It would be a shame if that couldn’t be brought to bear across the whole planet.

From Fortune

What’s a shame is that Huawei has arguably the most efficient 5G products.

From Fortune

But there's a ton of value for me in my background and my history, and losing it would be a shame.

From The Daily Beast

As ever, Jon Stewart and The Daily Show crew encouraged us to find some humor alongside the horror and the shame.

From The Daily Beast

The post-dinner conversations of staffers and policy-makers was seamed with shame, and even defeatism.

From The Daily Beast

It's a shame, because Samberg's work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been stronger than ever this past season.

From The Daily Beast

Her own muddled feelings of confusion, shame, and fear are what make the essay great and what make the essay her story.

From The Daily Beast

Tell Lady Maude the candid truth, and take shame and blame to yourself, as you deserve.

From Project Gutenberg

I had it put in order whilst you were in London; it was a shame to let a sacred place remain in such a state.

From Project Gutenberg

For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not possibly doubt or question, and shame flooded him till he felt himself the meanest man alive.

From Project Gutenberg

My own yielding folly alone is to blame, and I shall take shame to myself for ever.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• debase
• discredit
• dishonor
• humiliate
• mortify
• reproach
• ridicule