Shame
/ʃeɪm/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe feeling of embarrassment and regret, especially after doing something wrong.
/ʃeɪm/
A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
He felt a deep sense of shame when he realized the extent of his mistake.
💡 Simply: Imagine you accidentally spilled juice on your friend's new shirt. The feeling of being embarrassed and wishing you hadn't done that? That's shame!
👶 For kids: Shame is when you feel bad because you did something you know is not right or that makes you feel embarrassed.
More Examples
The scandal brought shame upon the entire family.
She swallowed her pride and admitted her shame.
How It's Used
"The therapy focused on addressing the client's feelings of shame related to childhood trauma."
"Societies often use shame to enforce social norms and discourage deviant behavior."
To make someone feel embarrassed or humiliated; to bring disgrace.
/ʃeɪm/
To cause someone to feel shame; to embarrass.
The news report shamed the company for its unethical practices.
💡 Simply: If you tell everyone about your friend's secret, you're trying to 'shame' them, which is make them feel embarrassed and upset.
👶 For kids: To shame someone is to make them feel bad for something they did or said.
More Examples
He was shamed into apologizing for his rude behavior.
They tried to shame her into changing her mind.
How It's Used
"The exposé shamed the politician into resigning."
"The public display of his errors shamed the protagonist."
Synonyms
Disgrace
Embarrassment
Guilt
Humiliation
Remorse
Degrade
Embarrass
Humiliate
Antonyms
Confidence
Dignity
Honor
Pride
Respect
Commend
Exalt
Flatter
Praise
Idioms & expressions
to hang one's head in shame
To feel very ashamed or embarrassed.
"After admitting his mistake, he had to hang his head in shame."
shame on you
Used to express disapproval of someone's behavior.
"Shame on you for cheating on the exam!"
From Old English *scamu*, related to German *Scham* and Dutch *schaamte*, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skamō*. The word has a long history, reflecting the fundamental human experience of embarrassment or disgrace.
Used in literature and everyday speech for centuries, indicating the enduring human experience of guilt and embarrassment.
Memory tip
Imagine a shameful act as a stain that colors your face red. This visual helps associate shame with the color red from embarrassment.