shameful

adjective shame·ful \ ˈshām-fəl \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of shameful

1 a :bringing shame :disgraceful

b :arousing the feeling of shame

2 archaic :full of the feeling of shame :ashamed

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shamefully

play \ˈshām-fə-lē\ adverb

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shamefulness

noun

See shameful defined for English-language learners

See shameful defined for kids

Examples of shameful in a Sentence

There is no excuse for such shameful behavior.
shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors

Recent Examples of shameful from the Web

Granting a pardon to Joe Arpaio is shameful and appalling.

— derek lawrence, EW.com, "Celebs rip 'racist' and 'cowardly' Trump for pardoning former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio," 26 Aug. 2017
Got a burning question or a shameful story to share?

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "What's the Difference Between Bread Flour, All-Purpose Flour, Cake Flour, and Pastry Flour? (Phew!)," 8 Aug. 2017
The drama started early this season, with hopeful woo-er DeMario’s shameful exit after his girlfriend came on set to berate him for lying to Rachel — and the show’s massive viewership — about his intentions.

— ikya kandula, Longreads, "Failed Promises: A ‘Bachelorette’ Reading List," 8 Aug. 2017
Buckley was not alone in thinking this a shameful betrayal and organized protests against it.

— john o'sullivan, National Review, "Did William F. Buckley’s Conservative Project End in Failure?," 20 July 2017
Jasmine and I, both black, shared a secret that initiated us into a shameful sisterhood.

— robbie ann darby, SELF, "'To the Bone' and Other Eating Disorder Movies Need to Show More People Like Me," 14 July 2017
Must we be included on the list of shameful taxpayers.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Thanks, Cook County, for turning us into soda nut-cases," 29 June 2017
A tax on sweetened beverages suddenly puts soda in the same category as cigarettes and liquor, making it a shameful indulgence.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Thanks, Cook County, for turning us into soda nut-cases," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shameful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of shameful

13th century

shameful Synonyms

Synonyms

discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, ignominious, infamous, louche, notorious, opprobrious, shady, disreputable, shoddy, shy, unrespectable

Antonyms

honorable, reputable, respectable

Related Words

bad, criminal, immoral, seamy, sordid, unethical, unsavory, wicked; base, contemptible, despicable, detestable, dirty, low, mean, miserable, vile, wretched; black, evil, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unrighteous, vicious, villainous, wrong; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, inglorious, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, gamy (or gamey), libertine, loose, perverted, reprobate

Near Antonyms

decent, ethical, good, honest, just, moral, noble, principled, righteous, upright, upstanding; esteemed, prestigious, reputed, respected; authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; clean, correct, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly; blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless

SHAMEFUL Defined for English Language Learners

shameful

adjective

Definition of shameful for English Language Learners

: very bad : bad enough to make someone ashamed

SHAMEFUL Defined for Kids

shameful

adjective shame·ful \ ˈshām-fəl \

Definition of shameful for Students

:bringing shame :disgraceful

“It would have been shameful to fail … when everyone knew that you could do well.”
—Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

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shamefully

\-fə-lē\ adverb

—

shamefulness

noun

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See words that rhyme with shameful Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shameful Spanish Central: Translation of shameful Nglish: Translation of shameful for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shameful for Arabic speakers

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Examples of shameful in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shameful from the Web

First Known Use of shameful

shameful Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

SHAMEFUL Defined for English Language Learners

shameful

Definition of shameful for English Language Learners

SHAMEFUL Defined for Kids

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Definition of shameful for Students

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