Word Explorer
Children's
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
Intermediate Dictionary
       

shame

 
 
pronunciation:
sheIm
parts of speech:
noun, verb
phrases:
for shame!, put to shame
features:
Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a painful feeling brought about by the knowledge that one has done something wrong or not proper.
She felt shame after failing the test. She knew she would have passed if she had studied.
 
synonyms:
regret, remorse
antonyms:
pride
definition 2: the ability to feel bad about behaving in a way that is wrong or improper.
He is without shame, and he has never apologized for the hurtful things he did.
similar words:
modesty
definition 3: a painful sense that one is inferior to others or imperfect in some way, often caused by the criticism or judgment of others, or the fear of being judged.
Cole doesn't want friends to come over to his house because he feels shame about how messy and run-down it is.When that boy in school teased her about always wearing the same old clothes, Holly felt shame even though it wasn't really true.
antonyms:
pride
similar words:
embarrassment
definition 4: loss of honor; disgrace.
His arrest brought shame on his family.
synonyms:
disgrace, dishonor
antonyms:
glory, honor
definition 5: something to feel bad about, especially something lost or wasted; disappointment.
It's a shame you can't go on vacation.What a shame!
synonyms:
disappointment, pity
antonyms:
blessing
phrase: for shame!, put to shame
 
part of speech: verb
inflections: shames, shaming, shamed
definition 1: to make someone feel ashamed.
She shamed her family by lying.
synonyms:
disgrace, embarrass, humiliate
similar words:
humble
definition 2: to cause loss of respect; bring embarrassment to.
He was shamed after he failed to finish his assignment.
synonyms:
disgrace, dishonor
similar words:
degrade, embarrass
definition 3: to force through guilt.
We shamed him into paying the money he owed us.
synonyms:
embarrass
derivation: shamable (shameable) (adj.)
Word Explorer
See
  emotion