shame

1 of 2

noun

ˈshām 

1

a

: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety

b

: the susceptibility to such emotion

have you no shame?

2

: a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : ignominy

the shame of being arrested

3

a

: something that brings censure or reproach

also : something to be regretted : pity

it's a shame you can't go

b

: a cause of feeling shame

shame

2 of 2

verb

shamed; shaming

transitive verb

1

: to bring shame to : disgrace

shamed the family name

2

: to put to shame by outdoing

3

: to cause to feel shame

4

: to force by causing to feel guilty

shamed into confessing

Synonyms

Noun

• contriteness
• contrition
• guilt
• penitence
• regret
• remorse
• remorsefulness
• repentance
• rue
• self-reproach

Verb

• abase
• chasten
• cheapen
• debase
• degrade
• demean
• discredit
• disgrace
• dishonor
• foul
• humble
• humiliate
• lower
• sink
• smirch
• take down

Examples of shame in a Sentence

Noun

He felt shame for his lies.

How could you be so rude? Have you no shame?

Her crimes brought shame upon her family.

He had to endure the shame of being fired.

Verb

He was shamed by his behavior at the party.

shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This constant exposure can fuel feelings of shame, a powerful trigger for substance abuse. —Will Ripley, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

The brand of politics that Musk and Carlson practice is swaggering and provocative and, as a result, entirely devoid of shame. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Those who are calling her disgusting and shaming her, and those who are encouraging her to pull through this moment of being overwhelmed by motherhood. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2024

One adult tried to snooker a puppet out of change, only to be shamed by his girlfriend. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scamu; akin to Old High German scama shame

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shame

• a crying shame
• body-shame
• fat-shame
• hang one's head in shame
• put (someone or something) to shame
• shame on (someone)

Kids Definition

shame

1 of 2 noun

ˈshām 

1

a

: a painful emotion caused by having done something wrong or improper

b

: ability to feel shame

have you no shame?

2

: dishonor entry 1 sense 1, disgrace

3

: something that brings disgrace or causes shame or strong regret

4

: something to be regretted : pity

it's a shame you'll miss the show

shame

2 of 2 verb

shamed; shaming

1

: to bring shame to : disgrace

2

: to cause to feel shame

3

: to force by causing to feel guilty

they were shamed into confessing