shame

/ʃeɪm/

/ʃeɪm/

Other forms: shamed; shames; shaming

Shame is a painful feeling that's a mix of regret, self-hate, and dishonor. A good person would feel shame if they cheated on a test or did something mean to a friend.

Feeling shame — or being ashamed — is one of the most miserable feelings of them all. When you feel shame, you feel like a bad person and regret what you did. If you're trying to make someone else feel bad by scolding them, you're shaming them. People also often say, "That's a shame," when something bad happens — meaning it's sad or a pity.

Definitions of shame

1. noun

   a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
   types:

   conscience

   a feeling of shame when you do something immoral

   self-disgust, self-hatred

   shame resulting from strong dislike of yourself or your actions

   embarrassment

   the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

   self-consciousness, uncomfortableness, uneasiness

   embarrassment deriving from the feeling that others are critically aware of you

   shamefacedness, sheepishness

   feeling embarrassed about yourself

   chagrin, humiliation, mortification

   strong feelings of embarrassment

   confusion, discombobulation

   a feeling of embarrassment that leaves you confused

   abashment, bashfulness

   feeling embarrassed due to modesty

   discomfiture, discomposure, disconcertion, disconcertment

   anxious embarrassment

   type of:

   feeling

   the experiencing of affective and emotional states
2. noun

   a state of dishonor
   “one mistake brought shame to all his family”

   synonyms: disgrace, ignominy

   types:

   humiliation

   state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

   obloquy, opprobrium

   state of disgrace resulting from public abuse

   odium

   state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior

   reproach

   disgrace or shame

   abasement, abjection, degradation

   a low or downcast state

   type of:

   dishonor, dishonour

   a state of shame or disgrace
3. noun

   an unfortunate development
   synonyms: pity

   type of:

   bad luck, misfortune

   unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
4. verb

   cause to be ashamed
   types:

   discountenance

   look with disfavor on

   type of:

   arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, pique, provoke, raise

   call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
5. verb

   bring shame or dishonor upon
   synonyms: attaint, disgrace, dishonor, dishonour

   types:

   befoul, defile, foul, maculate

   spot, stain, or pollute
6. verb

   compel through a sense of shame
   “She shamed him into making amends”

   type of:

   compel, obligate, oblige

   force somebody to do something
7. verb

   surpass or beat by a wide margin
   type of:

   exceed, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass

   be or do something to a greater degree