sheepish

American  

[shee-pish] / ˈʃi pɪʃ /

adjective

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

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

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sheepish British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• sheepishly adverb
• sheepishness noun

Etymology

Origin of sheepish

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

Example Sentences

Even so, when they rediscover their music sometime in the distant future, they’ll have nothing to be sheepish about.

From Salon

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

From BBC

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

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

Related Words

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