shameful

adjective

ˈshām-fəl How to pronounce shameful (audio)
Definition of shamefulnext
as in notorious
not respectable shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 shameful Risk wasn’t shameful and failure wasn’t final here. — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Cleft palates appear not to have been treated as shameful under the Qing dynasty. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 That poor driver had to listen to me sniffle in shameful despair all the way back to the city. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 The Chief Financial Officer of Florida, Blaise Ingoglia, continues his dog and pony show around the state claiming to have unearthed shameful, excessive spending by counties and municipalities. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shameful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shameful
  1. notorious
  2. infamous
  3. shady
  4. immoral
  5. criminal
  6. disgraceful
Adjective
  • The bay is notorious for its strong currents, and within hours of the boat’s sinking, rescuers were also searching the open ocean beyond the Golden Gate Bridge.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • His first stint in a Moscow jail, Shtilerman told me, resulted from his involvement in one of Russia’s most notorious financial schemes.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of notorious
Adjective
  • This four-to-five-hour World War I experience, based on the infamous Gallipoli campaign, spent a couple of months as a PC exclusive (and gardnered a bunch of Very Positive feedback).
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • In 1986 Maradona’s infamous uncalled handball/goal for Argentina beat England in the World Cup quarterfinals.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of infamous
Adjective
  • Debbie, named after Coates’ mother, feels betrayed by Judith and her husband, who is involved in shady dealings with an Albanian gang.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • But the story about the war hero Odysseus, whose journey home with his men is beset by sea storms, shipwrecks, gods, monsters and shady ladies, set the template for literature, comic books, science fiction and Hollywood epics for centuries to come.
    — Jim Beckerman, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Some rabbinic readings attribute Lot’s hesitation to leave Sodom to his immoral greed and inordinate wealth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • Because Hostin had no criminal history and cooperated with officers, police said he was issued a summons for trespass and released.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • The arrests were approved by the leaders of the Justice Department’s criminal division, a source told CNN.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Due to For All Mankind plot reasons, these unexpected lovebirds simply must get out of their disgraceful pickle.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Van Hollen’s support for this disgraceful candidate in Maine is a stain on all of us.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
Definition of disgraceful

Browse Nearby Words

shamefaced
shameful
shameless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shameful. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shameful

Nglish: Translation of shameful for Spanish Speakers

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