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
- sheepishly adverb
- sheepishness noun
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
The Outsiders
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
A few moments before the Celtic left-back - playing on the right since his introduction in the 72nd minute - scored the second wonder goal of the night, Hanley was feeling sheepish.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
When Daniela Amodei meets with potential customers and business partners, they sometimes toss her a sheepish question as they leave: “What should my kid study in college?”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
Even so, when they rediscover their music sometime in the distant future, they’ll have nothing to be sheepish about.
From Salon • Dec. 14, 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
Crane-man looked almost displeased for an instant; then his lips curled into a sheepish smile.
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
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.
