sheepish

[shee-pish]

adjective

1. embarrassed or bashful, as by having done something wrong or foolish.

2. like sheep, as in meekness, docility, etc.

sheepish

/ ˈʃiːpɪʃ /

adjective

1. abashed or embarrassed, esp through looking foolish or being in the wrong

2. resembling a sheep in timidity or lack of initiative

Other Word Forms

• sheepishly adverb
• sheepishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheepish¹

First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepish is from the Middle English word shepisshe; sheep, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

And while he's still a little sheepish about the attention being lavished on him, he's coming round to the idea.

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I was distracted, for instance, when Wilder’s Wonka made his grand limping entrance, as the sheepish building behind him was now dwarfed by sparkly, shiny warehouses.

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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.”

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As “Alien: Earth” skitters toward its season finale, it’s clear that this being intends to do worse than its sheepish gaze lets on.

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Neither Tongue, nor India's batters, seemed to know what was coming next, as the sheepish giggle after Jadeja's wicket suggested.

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Related Words

• diffident 
• foolish 
• self-conscious 
• timid 
• uncomfortable