sheepish
Americanadjective
-
embarrassed or bashful, as by having done something wrong or foolish.
-
like sheep, as in meekness, docility, etc.
adjective
-
abashed or embarrassed, esp through looking foolish or being in the wrong
-
resembling a sheep in timidity or lack of initiative
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sheepish
First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepish is from the Middle English word shepisshe; see sheep, -ish 1
Explanation
Sheep aren't the smartest, most confident creatures. They're always clustering together as if they're ashamed to be alone. When you're sheepish, you're like a sheep — embarrassed and not confident. The word sheepish can be used to describe how someone looks or acts. If you wear a sheepish grin, you're embarrassed. Similarly, if you're feeling a bit sheepish, you're probably wanting to hide away from the world. If you are acting sheepish, you probably don't want to take responsibility for your actions.
Vocabulary lists containing sheepish
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List 6
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"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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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.
Jesse Plemons is more sheepish when coughing up his selection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025
And while he's still a little sheepish about the attention being lavished on him, he's coming round to the idea.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
I felt sheepish when my partner caught me sneaking a cookie shortly after I had encouraged him to forgo dessert so we could “be healthy together.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2025
As “Alien: Earth” skitters toward its season finale, it’s clear that this being intends to do worse than its sheepish gaze lets on.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2025
Ginger looked sheepish as Tjaden danced round him.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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.
