Shame
WordNet
noun
(1) An unfortunate development
"It's a pity he couldn't do it"
(2) A painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
(3) A state of dishonor
"One mistake brought shame to all his family"
"Suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison"
verb
(4) Surpass or beat by a wide margin
(5) Cause to be ashamed
(6) Compel through a sense of shame
"She shamed him into making amends"
(7) Bring shame or dishonor upon
"He dishonored his family by committing a serious crime"
WiktionaryText
Noun
- Uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of impropriety, dishonor or other wrong in the opinion of the person experiencing the feeling. It is caused by awareness of exposure of circumstances of unworthiness or of improper or indecent conduct.
- When I realized that I had hurt my friend, I felt deep shame.
- The teenager couldn’t bear the shame of introducing his parents.
- Something to regret.
- It was a shame not to see the show after driving all that way.
- "And what you do to me is a shame." - Evelyn "Champagne" King, in the song Shame.
- That which is shameful and private, especially on the personal body.
- Cover your shame!
Usage notes
- While shame is not generally counted, it is countable, for example
- I felt two shames: one for hurting my friend, and a greater one for lying about it.
Verb
- To feel shame, be ashamed.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- Therefore, brothir, I woll that ye wete I shame nat to be with hym nor to do hym all the plesure that I can.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- To cause to feel shame.
- I was shamed by the teacher's public disapproval.