SHAME Synonyms: 190 Similar and Opposite Words

shame 1 of 2

noun

ˈshām

Definition of shame

as in remorse

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing racked with shame over her actions of the previous week

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pity

a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a shame you won't be able to come to the party

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as in disgrace

the state of having lost the esteem of others left the room in shame after his angry outburst

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shame

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

Noun

There’s absolutely no shame in being a renter for a time either. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2026 But please don’t expect everyone else to hang their heads in shame when looking at the heritage of this nation. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Verb

The shaving of a woman’s hair or her public shaming for ‘sharing’ her body is a very old concept. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026 Maybe the point of the scorecard would be to shame providers into doing better. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shame

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shame

Noun

Prosecutors sharply disputed that portrayal, arguing Flynn has never accepted responsibility or shown genuine remorse.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Sometimes a judge will do that if a defendant credibly expresses remorse for his crimes.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of remorse

Noun

All eyes were trained in my direction, watching my every move, all conveying their pity.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Years later, Nelson is married to Linda (pity poor Tatyana Ali, saddled with an almost comically underwritten, saintly-supportive-partner role) and is raising her son as his own.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of pity

Noun

But Scott was mercifully lifted for Evan Phillips, who recorded the final out of the game to save the Dodgers from disgrace.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
If deterrence is a factor in sentencing, Pattis argues that Diamantis’ disgrace is sufficient.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of disgrace

Verb

But the Saudis, humiliated by their losses in Yemen, seem likely to lash out.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
When she and the other part-time employees were told their positions were being eliminated, Valcarcel said she felt humiliated and disrespected.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Noun

Consumed by guilt, Verity acted paralyzed as penance, and to remain close to Jeremy and their remaining child.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
East of Eden is a tome obsessed with guilt, sin, ambition, race, the land as healing and capitalism as putrefying, the nature of fate and the question of free will, and the role money and inheritance play in either our corruption or our cleansing.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of guilt

Verb

Watching left-wing media try to discredit Caitlin Clark and her dedicated fan base has been a tale as old as her rookie season.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The arrival of Dutch elm disease not only ravaged these green spaces, but discredited the whole goal of aiming for such uniformity.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

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shambolic

shame

shamed

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Style

“Shame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shame. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shame

noun

verb

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