1
a
: bringing shame : disgraceful
b
: arousing the feeling of shame
2
archaic
: full of the feeling of shame : ashamed
shamefulness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of shameful in a Sentence
There is no excuse for such shameful behavior.
shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors
Recent Examples on the Web
The comedian used his time on stage to reminisce not-so-fondly about the entertainment industry's often shameful history of excluding non-white performers.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
But the narrator’s shameful thoughts, which are supposed to set her apart, feel painfully ordinary.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024
That unforgivable decision is precipitated by the appearance of a music producer who seems to hold the keys to opportunity for the young girls and abuses that power for his own shameful ends.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2024
Why was this tool—a small disposable wad of cotton with the sole function of absorbing blood, aiding my ability to move freely with no setbacks just as the boys on my team do—shameful and wrong?
—Hazlitt, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shameful 
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
But the narrator’s shameful thoughts, which are supposed to set her apart, feel painfully ordinary.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024
That unforgivable decision is precipitated by the appearance of a music producer who seems to hold the keys to opportunity for the young girls and abuses that power for his own shameful ends.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2024
Why was this tool—a small disposable wad of cotton with the sole function of absorbing blood, aiding my ability to move freely with no setbacks just as the boys on my team do—shameful and wrong?
—Hazlitt, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shameful
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shameful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shameful
Cite this Entry
“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shameful. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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