shame

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety
b
: the susceptibility to such emotion
have you no shame?
2
: a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : ignominy
the shame of being arrested
3
a
: something that brings censure or reproach
also : something to be regretted : pity
it's a shame you can't go
b
: a cause of feeling shame

shame

2 of 2

verb

shamed; shaming

transitive verb

1
: to bring shame to : disgrace
shamed the family name
2
: to put to shame by outdoing
3
: to cause to feel shame
4
: to force by causing to feel guilty
shamed into confessing

Examples of shame in a Sentence

Noun He felt shame for his lies. How could you be so rude? Have you no shame? Her crimes brought shame upon her family. He had to endure the shame of being fired. Verb He was shamed by his behavior at the party. shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Korean baritone Kidon Choi plays the role of Sharpless, the kind-hearted American consul in Japan who recognizes Cio-Cio San’s shame and loss. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 This was Swift’s first and only voice role, which is a shame because her earnest, expressive delivery is perfect for children’s media. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 Also, in this perfect world, a natural consequence would help a child grow rather than deeply shame, wound or traumatize them. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The only shame, really, is that the trailer inevitably gives away the biggest twist, which makes the first 30 minutes or so feel a bit obligatory, albeit necessary, building up to the fire-breathing action that follows. Brian Lowry, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Why is there shame surrounding taking medication, and what is the future of these medicines in our society and culture? James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 There’s no shame in asking a restaurant’s sommelier for their recommendations. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Since then, clients have hired him to name and shame employers and businesses in various fields — food service, the garment industry, construction workers. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Through discussion and embodied exercises, participants will cover areas such as playfulness and desire and learn to touch, receive and experience pleasure, all while finding deeper connection with themselves and shedding shame and inhibitions in the process. Amy Abrahams, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
But the approach is also rooted in the logic that, by maintaining a united front, international and regional powers could shame and pressure the Taliban into changing their ways. Asfandyar Mir, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2024 But Kimmel shamed him into doing it anyway, and the exceedingly buff and hairless Cena crab-walked sideways across the stage, his privates seemingly covered only by a large envelope. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Tassi was protected by the pope and set free; Gentileschi, despite being a brilliant artist, was shamed and erased from public memory for centuries. Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Parents back then weren’t publicly shamed on social media for failing to breastfeed by strangers who’d never even babysat. Pamela Paul, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 Whether African women are praised for their curves or shamed for them, this ultimately boils their societal worth down to what their bodies look like. Annie Blay, Allure, 22 Feb. 2024 According to Lucie Greene, a trend forecaster for Light Years, much of our gawking is driven by a primal impulse to search nepo baby faces for recognizable genetic similarities and contrasts with their famous parents, and to praise or shame them accordingly. Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 And Internet sleuths had once again set to work going through cast and crew Instagrams, in search of evidence that could shame either party. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024 Because Knowles-Carter was raised in a household where young girls were told to tell the truth and shame the devil. TIME, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scamu; akin to Old High German scama shame

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shame was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shame

Cite this Entry

“Shame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shame. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shame

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a painful emotion caused by having done something wrong or improper
b
: ability to feel shame
have you no shame?
2
3
: something that brings disgrace or causes shame or strong regret
4
: something to be regretted : pity
it's a shame you'll miss the show

shame

2 of 2 verb
shamed; shaming
1
: to bring shame to : disgrace
2
: to cause to feel shame
3
: to force by causing to feel guilty
they were shamed into confessing

More from Merriam-Webster on shame

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!