abash

abash

transitive verb \ə-ˈbash\

Definition of ABASH

: to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of : disconcert

— abash·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of ABASH

1. <felt terribly abashed when she walked into the wrong hotel room>

Origin of ABASH

Middle English abaishen, from Anglo-French abaiss-, abair to astonish, alteration of esbair, from ex- + baer to open wide, gape — more at abeyance

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ABASH

Synonyms

embarrass, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle

Related Words

agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, put off, put out, unhinge, unsettle, upset; debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, queer, shame

Near Antonyms

calm, comfort, console, relieve, soothe; buoy, cheer, embolden, encourage, hearten; assure, reassure

See Synonym Discussion at embarrass

Rhymes with ABASH

backlash, backslash, backsplash, bone ash, calash, Chumash, cold cash, czardas, encash, eyelash, fly ash, gate-crash, goulash, green flash, heat rash, hot flash, Lagash, mishmash, mustache, panache, potash, rehash, slapdash, soutache, stramash, tongue-lash, unlash, Wabash, whiplash, white ash