shamefaced
Americanadjective
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modest or bashful.
-
showing shame.
shamefaced apologies.
adjective
-
bashful or modest
-
showing a sense of shame
Other Word Forms
- shamefacedly adverb
- shamefacedness noun
Etymology
Origin of shamefaced
1545–55; alteration of shamefast by folk etymology; see shame, faced
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fallout, so far, has included shamefaced admissions and apologies from judges; a promise of improvement from the Administrative Office of the U.S.
From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2021
I received the same shamefaced response when I called the other two physicians in the Senate—Rand Paul of Kentucky and John Barrasso of Wyoming.
From Slate • Nov. 29, 2017
There was somehow something shamefaced in him as he answered.
From The Guardian • Nov. 2, 2017
He spoke of being both "flattered" and "shamefaced" about often being mentioned alongside Mr. Burton because of their geographical connection.
From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2012
Imagine, Tata Ndu said, a shamefaced chief who could only afford one single wife!
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
