Shame — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈshām/

Meaning & Definition of Shame

Shame (noun)

  1. a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety
  2. the susceptibility to such emotion
  3. a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute, ignominy

Shame (verb)

  1. to bring shame to, disgrace
  2. to put to shame by outdoing
  3. to cause to feel shame

Shame (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing

    "racked with shame over her actions of the previous week"

    similar: contriteness, contrition, guilt, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach
    related: compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple, blame, culpability, fault, liability, rap, responsibility, chagrin, embarrassment, anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow, bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness, apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa
    opposite: impenitence, remorselessness

  2. a regrettable or blameworthy act

    "it's a shame you won't be able to come to the party"

    similar: crime, disgrace, pity, sin
    related: outrage, scandal

  3. the state of having lost the esteem of others

    "left the room in shame after his angry outburst"

    similar: discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach
    related: scandal, contempt, despite, disdain, scorn, deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, abasement, debasement, debasing, degradation, dust, humbling, humiliation, blot, brand, shadow, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint
    opposite: esteem, honor, respect
    near: admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard, awe, fear, reverence, fame, glory, renown, repute

Shame (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes

    "shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement"

    similar: abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, sink, smirch, take down
    related: abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off, bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander, affront, insult, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    opposite: aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt
    near: acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge, recognize, highlight, play up, spotlight, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify, advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, idealize, romanticize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shame

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shame:

contriteness, contrition, guilt, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, crime, disgrace, pity, sin, discredit, disesteem, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, sink, smirch, take down

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Shame

Words with the opposite meaning of Shame:

impenitence, remorselessness, esteem, honor, respect, aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt

Related Words for Shame

compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple, blame, culpability, fault, liability, rap, responsibility, chagrin, embarrassment, anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow, bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness, apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa, outrage, scandal, contempt, despite, disdain

Near Antonyms of Shame

admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard, awe, fear, reverence, fame, glory, renown, repute, acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge

Word Forms of Shame

Inflections: shamed, shaming

Origin & Etymology of Shame

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

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Shame

Words & Phrases Containing Shame

shame on (someone), body-shame, fat-shame, a crying shame, hang one's head in shame, put (someone or something) to shame

Frequently Asked Questions about Shame

What does "Shame" mean?

"Shame" means a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shame"?

Other words for "Shame" include contriteness, contrition, guilt, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness and repentance. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Shame" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Shame"?

There are 128 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shame". Common alternatives include contriteness, contrition, guilt, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue and self-reproach.

What is the opposite of "Shame"?

Antonyms of "Shame" include impenitence, remorselessness, esteem, honor, respect, aggrandize, canonize and deify. Near antonyms include admiration, appreciation, estimation and regard.

How do you use "Shame" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shame" in a sentence: "racked with shame over her actions of the previous week"; "it's a shame you won't be able to come to the party"; "left the room in shame after his angry outburst".

Is "Shame" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Shame" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Shame" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Shame" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Shame"?

"Shame" is pronounced /ˈshām/.