ashamed

adjective

ə-ˈshāmd 

1

a

: feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace

She felt ashamed for hitting her brother.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Losing is nothing to be ashamed of.

He was deeply ashamed of his behavior.

b

: feeling inferior or unworthy

2

: reluctant or unwilling to do something because of shame or embarrassment

I was ashamed to be seen with him.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't know the answer.

ashamedly

ə-ˈshā-məd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• guilty

Examples of ashamed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every person with a uterus is going to undergo menopause at some point, so there’s no need to feel ashamed or anxious about it. —Katherine Speller, Flow Space, 7 Oct. 2025

That judge ought to be ashamed of himself. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, Sami, a city boy ashamed of his roots, arrives for a relaxing weekend on his family farm. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025

On a basic human level, the mayor should be ashamed of himself. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English āscamod, past participle of āscamian to shame, from ā- (perfective prefix) + scamian to shame — more at abide, shame

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for ashamed

• counterclaimed
• unashamed
• abovenamed
• acclaimed
• declaimed
• defamed
• disclaimed
• exclaimed
• inflamed
• misnamed
• nicknamed
• proclaimed

Kids Definition

ashamed

adjective

ə-ˈshāmd 

1

: feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace

ashamed of my behavior

2

: kept from doing something by an expectation of shame

ashamed to beg

ashamedly

-ˈshā-məd-lē 

adverb