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
Not holding my breath for Mike Johnson or Elise Stefanik to state the obvious that this is unacceptable, dangerous, & shameful.
—
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Wisconsin tribal leaders applaud Biden's apology for shameful Indian boarding schools
In 2020, both the Biden and Trump campaigns made efforts to address Indigenous issues.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024
But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places.
—Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
If the narrative of the 20th century is one of male greatness and genius, a pantheon of figures such as Nietzsche and Freud, Tokarczuk insists that this history obscures a world of shameful sexism.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shameful 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Wisconsin tribal leaders applaud Biden's apology for shameful Indian boarding schools
In 2020, both the Biden and Trump campaigns made efforts to address Indigenous issues.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024
But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places.
—Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
If the narrative of the 20th century is one of male greatness and genius, a pantheon of figures such as Nietzsche and Freud, Tokarczuk insists that this history obscures a world of shameful sexism.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shameful
Dictionary Entries Near shameful
Cite this Entry
“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shameful. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share