abashed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of abashednext
as in embarrassed

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abashed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of abash
as in confused
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress felt terribly abashed when she walked into the wrong hotel room

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 abashed
Adjective
This journey culminated in the 2018 production at Glyndebourne, which accomplished the feat of finally reducing (most of) the London critics to abashed admiration. — Russell Platt, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 Privacy concerns cause abashed feeling in Silicon Valley Zuckerberg's potential retort comes after Apple's Cook made comments at the end of March in an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes. — Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 11 Apr. 2018 Their reactions varied, from unimpressed to abashed and pained — all of them uncomfortable. — Cara Buckley, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abashed
  1. embarrassed
  2. confused
  3. discomfited
  4. flustered
  5. disconcerted
  6. self-conscious
  7. bashful
  8. inhibited
Adjective
  • He’s supposed to be embarrassed by me, not frightened for me.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • They are guaranteed to get embarrassed by your constant attempts to order in the local language.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of embarrassed
Verb
  • Prime Big Deal Days is Amazon's multiday sales event that takes place in the fall, not to be confused with Prime Day, Amazon's summer shopping event.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • At last week's race in Azerbaijan, Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas crashed on the last lap and reportedly blamed it on the software becoming confused and affecting his braking.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • Despite these successes at work, Ron scans as a discomfited and undistinguished middle manager.
    — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Thomas Jefferson was likewise discomfited by the revolutionary possibility of female citizenship.
    — Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of discomfited
Verb
  • Chicago rallied from a 2-0 hole after being flustered by Marlins starter Janson Junk, who threw five scoreless innings.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Rebecca is worked up because Matthjis is seemingly ghosting her, and Keeley becomes instantly flustered by the unexpected arrival of (an unexpectedly unaccompanied) Roy.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of flustered
Adjective
  • The rapper pleaded not guilty after he was accused of charging at Los Angeles police officers while roaming the streets of Studio City in his underwear and a pair of cowboy boots in a disconcerted state.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of disconcerted
Adjective
  • The circumstances are objectively potent — but Udofia smothers them in such a barrage of cutesiness and self-conscious signalling that a wall rises between us and the play.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Amid so much belabored meanness, meager appeals to conscience scan more like self-conscious obligation, easily subsumed by impotence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of self-conscious
Adjective
  • Each loving gesture and bashful smile from his aspiring girlfriend Nikki is punctuated by dread, every minute tense and unnerving as her fixation slowly takes a dark turn.
    — Mariam Bagdady, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The Kiwi sensibility, like the flightless kiwi bird, is funny, bashful, and a bit forlorn.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bashful
Adjective
  • First, men who receive accurate information about what other men actually believe are less inhibited about speaking out and intervening.
    — Catherine A. Sanderson, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Both players were so inhibited for the final game of the set that the level of play resembled something from a local park.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Definition of inhibited

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Cite this Entry

“Abashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abashed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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