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

This conversation should always be open, hones, and not guarded or ashamed. —Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025

At this point Ross is probably ashamed of where this once-proud franchise is, especially after Sunday’s disastrous season-opening 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

This doesn’t seem like a company that is ashamed to be caught stealing. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025

There are no poor officials, and no one is ashamed of their wealth, no matter how it was obtained. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 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