shame

¹shame

noun \ˈshām\

Definition of SHAME

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

Examples of SHAME

1. He felt shame for his lies.
2. How could you be so rude? Have you no shame?
3. Her crimes brought shame upon her family.
4. He had to endure the shame of being fired.

Origin of SHAME

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SHAME

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

impenitence, remorselessness

Related Words

compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple; blame, culpability, fault; liability, rap, responsibility; chagrin, embarrassment; anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow; bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness; apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa

Near Antonyms

admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard; awe, fear, reverence; fame, glory, renown, repute

Rhymes with SHAME

aim, blame, came, claim, dame, fame, flame, frame, game, hame, kame, lame, maim, name, same, tame, wame

²shame

transitive verb

shamedsham·ing

Definition of SHAME

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>

Examples of SHAME

1. He was shamed by his behavior at the party.
2. <shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement>

First Known Use of SHAME

13th century

Related to SHAME

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt

Related Words

abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off; bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander; affront, insult; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate

Near Antonyms

acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol (also extoll), fete (or fête), hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout; acknowledge, recognize; highlight, play up, spotlight; dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify; advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift; idealize, romanticize