shameful

[sheym-fuhl]

adjective

1. causing shame.

   shameful behavior.

   Synonyms: humiliating

2. disgraceful or scandalous.

   shameful treatment.

   Synonyms: low, base, vile, ignominious, dishonorable
   Antonyms: honorable

shameful

/ ˈʃeɪmfʊl /

adjective

1. causing or deserving shame; scandalous

Other Word Forms

• shamefully adverb
• shamefulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shameful¹

before 950; Middle English; Old English scamful. See shame, -ful

Example Sentences

At his sentencing hearing in September, Combs told a judge: "My actions were disgusting, shameful, and sick."

Read more on BBC

"The Conservatives' rank hypocrisy is shameful. They built this crisis, then feigned outrage when the consequences arrived," he said.

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The GOP’s shameful actions are just the most blatant example of how the #MeToo backlash has nothing to do with innocence, and everything to do with shielding men from the consequences of bad behavior.

Read more on Salon

When he says, “I forgive you,” you believe because he’s earned the trust in the speech by admitting the things that were so shameful .

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I want people to give themselves permission to embrace this part of themselves that they have felt so shameful and secretive about before," said Darragh, who has been back on Lexapro since 2022.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dastardly 
• disgraceful 
• embarrassing www.thesaurus.com
• flagrant 
• heinous 
• humiliating 
• ignominious 
• immoral 
• indecent 
• outrageous 
• reprehensible 
• scandalous 
• shocking 
• sinful 
• vile