shameful
Americanadjective
-
causing shame.
shameful behavior.
- Synonyms:
- humiliating
-
disgraceful or scandalous.
shameful treatment.
- Synonyms:
- low, base, vile, ignominious, dishonorable
- Antonyms:
- honorable
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shameful
before 950; Middle English; Old English scamful. See shame, -ful
Explanation
Cheating to win a game is a shameful act because it goes against fairness and honesty. Any shameful act can leave you feeling guilty and embarrassed if you get caught — as it should. The word shameful describes actions or behaviors that are disgraceful. For example, cheating on a test or telling a hurtful lie are shameful acts because they betray the values of trustworthiness, honesty, and kindness. When someone does something shameful, they are held in a state of dishonor, leading to feelings of regret and a desire to try and make things right.
Vocabulary lists containing shameful
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.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said it was "shameful" that Polanski was "still questioning the police's response".
From BBC • May 3, 2026
“It is shameful that he used Ken’s name as the example of those who supposedly aren’t carrying their fair share of the burdens associated with New York City’s often costly and wasteful spending,” Beeson wrote.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
Together they sketched out the story’s framework: a murder mystery set in a small town replete with shameful secrets and sinister magic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“It’s shameful that in many cases we are leaving people on their own during the worst migration crisis that we have confronted,” the veteran diplomat said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
"We thought it was-" "-we didn't know what it was-" "-we thought-" Memory of their new and shameful loyalty came to them.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
