1
as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
racked with shame over her actions of the previous week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disgrace
the state of having lost the esteem of others
left the room in shame after his angry outburst
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shame
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
And that’s a shame — not just for Disney, but potentially the whole of Hollywood.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Learn relevant lessons but never shame yourself.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shame
Noun
The Indian film follows an impoverished elderly couple whose developmentally disabled son has become a source of shame in their village.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
And that’s a shame — not just for Disney, but potentially the whole of Hollywood.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Continue reading … PARTY PATROL — Spring break party scenes turn ugly as cops ramp up public shaming campaign.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Learn relevant lessons but never shame yourself.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shame
Noun
-
Yet if the denial of a driver’s license is based on such arbitrary factors as a victim’s advocacy, or a defendant’s remorse, or public opinion, or the whims of state bureaucrats, the results are inconsistent.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
-
But the judge said that, given Lau's age, her lack of a criminal record, and her remorse, the sentence was appropriate.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Martínez has actively avoided presenting herself as a victim and strongly rejects pity.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Playing the lead, Falls does a very good job of showing the tragedy of Carroll’s situation without ever playing the role for pity; the toxic world of the manosphere seldom has been so graphically or gruesomely rendered.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, Coronado returned to Mexico City in disgrace, the last of the great Spanish explorers.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Had all those court cases and public disgraces dampened his hubris?—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Well, everyone in show business has to humiliate themselves sometimes.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But some Cubans still revere the 1959 revolution, and, as one foreign official told us, have no desire to humiliate Raúl Castro (Fidel’s 94-year-old brother and a former president), or even Díaz-Canel, who is widely viewed as a weak bureaucrat.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Ashleigh Stovall described the guilt of having a good day, the confusion of feeling fine, then feeling terrible about giving herself permission to experience anything but sadness.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Dublin congressman told KRON that the White House hopes to discredit him in the race as a frequent critic and to boost the chances of his Republican rivals.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
That is certainly one way to discredit someone.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your position urging Broward County to choose resiliency over regret reflected exactly why so many residents felt compelled to speak up.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
It may be printed out and boxed in a closet, marked with notes and red ink, held together by binder clips and regret.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Tonight’s ceremony had none of the major dramatic mishaps that have both embarrassed the Academy Awards’ organizers and affirmed the event’s status as must-see live TV.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shame. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
