shame

[sheym] /ʃeɪm/
noun
1.
the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another:
She was overcome with shame.
2.
susceptibility to this feeling:
to be without shame.
3.
disgrace; ignominy:
His actions brought shame upon his parents.
4.
a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or regret:
The bankruptcy of the business was a shame. It was a shame you couldn't come with us.
verb (used with object), shamed, shaming.
5.
to cause to feel shame; make ashamed:
His cowardice shamed him.
6.
to drive, force, etc., through shame:
He shamed her into going.
7.
to cover with ignominy or reproach; disgrace.
Idioms
8.
for shame!, you should feel ashamed!:
What a thing to say to your mother! For shame!
9.
put to shame,
  1. to cause to suffer shame or disgrace.
  2. to outdo; surpass:
    She played so well she put all the other tennis players to shame.
Origin
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English sc(e)amu; cognate with German Scham, Old Norse skǫmm; (v.) Middle English schamen, shamien to be ashamed, Old English sc(e)amian, derivative of the noun
Related forms
shamable, shameable, adjective
shamably, shameably, adverb
half-shamed, adjective
outshame, verb (used with object), outshamed, outshaming.
unshamable, adjective
unshameable, adjective
unshamed, adjective
Synonyms
1. Shame, embarrassment, mortification, humiliation, chagrin designate different kinds or degrees of painful feeling caused by injury to one's pride or self-respect. Shame is a painful feeling caused by the consciousness or exposure of unworthy or indecent conduct or circumstances: One feels shame at being caught in a lie. It is similar to guilt in the nature and origin of the feeling. Embarrassment usually refers to a feeling less painful than that of shame, one associated with less serious situations, often of a social nature: embarrassment over breaking a teacup at a party. Mortification is a more painful feeling, akin to shame but also more likely to arise from specifically social circumstances: his mortification at being singled out for rebuke. Humiliation is mortification at being humbled in the estimation of others: Being ignored gives one a sense of humiliation. Chagrin is humiliation mingled with vexation or anger: She felt chagrin at her failure to remember her promise. 5. humiliate, mortify, humble, abash, embarrass.
Antonyms
1. pride, self-esteem, self-respect.
Examples from the web for shame
  • This is the shame that blocks the beloved mouth that wishes to make acknowledgment.
  • Hybris a study in the values of honour and shame in ancient greece.
  • It is a shame that the name was dragged through the gutter like that.
  • Glorification of wealth, power and beauty beget crime, envy and shame.
  • A worthy man by an apt saying puts to shame the wicked hypocrisy of the religious.
  • We experience the operation of conscience as guilt and shame.
British Dictionary definitions for shame

shame

/ʃeɪm/
noun
1.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonourable, unworthy, degrading, etc
2.
capacity to feel such an emotion
3.
ignominy or disgrace
4.
a person or thing that causes this
5.
an occasion for regret, disappointment, etc: it's a shame you can't come with us
6.
put to shame
  1. to disgrace
  2. to surpass totally
interjection
7.
(South African, informal)
  1. an expression of sympathy
  2. an expression of pleasure or endearment
verb (transitive)
8.
to cause to feel shame
9.
to bring shame on; disgrace
10.
(often foll by into) to compel through a sense of shame: he shamed her into making an apology
11.
name and shame, See name (sense 17)
Derived Forms
shamable, shameable, adjective
Word Origin
Old English scamu; related to Old Norse skömm, Old High German skama
Word Origin and History for shame
n.

Old English scamu, sceomu "feeling of guilt or disgrace; confusion caused by shame; disgrace, dishonor, insult, loss of esteem or reputation; shameful circumstance, what brings disgrace; modesty; private parts," from Proto-Germanic *skamo (cf. Old Saxon skama, Old Norse skömm, Swedish skam, Old Frisian scome, Dutch schaamte, Old High German scama, German Scham). The best guess is that this is from PIE *skem-, from *kem- "to cover" (covering oneself being a common expression of shame).

Until modern times English had a productive duplicate form in shand. An Old Norse word for it was kinnroði, literally "cheek-redness," hence, "blush of shame." Greek distinguished shame in the bad sense of "disgrace, dishonor" (aiskhyne) from shame in the good sense of "modesty, bashfulness" (aidos). To put (someone or something) to shame is mid-13c. Shame culture attested by 1947.

v.

Old English scamian "be ashamed, blush, feel shame; cause shame," from the root of shame (n.). Cf. Old Saxon scamian, Dutch schamen, Old High German scamen, Danish skamme, Gothic skaman, German schämen sich. Related: Shamed; shaming.

Slang definitions & phrases for shame

shame

Related Terms

a dirty shame


Idioms and Phrases with shame

shame

In addition to the idiom beginning with
shame
also see: