shame
An uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of one's own impropriety or dishonor, or something being exposed that should have been kept private.
Noun 4 meanings
An uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of one's own impropriety or dishonor, or something being exposed that should have been kept private.
“When I realized that I had hurt my friend, I felt deep shame.”
Something to regret.
“It was a shame not to see the show after driving all that way.”
Reproach incurred or suffered; dishonour; ignominy; derision.
The cause or reason of shame; that which brings reproach and ignominy.
Interjection 1 meaning
A cry of admonition for the subject of a speech, either to denounce the speaker or to agree with the speaker's denunciation of some person or matter; often used reduplicated, especially in political debates.
Adjective 2 meanings
Embarrassed and shy, particularly because one is the subject of attention.
Causing embarrassment or shyness.
Verb 4 meanings
To cause to feel shame.
“I was shamed by the teacher's public disapproval.”
To cover with reproach or ignominy; to dishonor; to disgrace.
To denounce as having done something shameful; to criticize with the intent or effect of causing a feeling of shame.
“Stop shaming others about their food choices.”
To drive or compel by shame.
“The politician was shamed into resigning.”
Etymology
From Middle English schame, from Old English sċamu, from Proto-West Germanic *skamu, from Proto-Germanic *skamō.
Similar and opposite words
SHAME at a glance
SHAME has 5 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (S 1 + H 4 + A 1 + M 3 + E 1) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,702 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
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