shame

1 of 2

noun

ˈshām How to pronounce shame (audio)
Synonyms of shame
1
a
: a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety
b
: the susceptibility to such emotion
have you no shame?
2
: a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : ignominy
the shame of being arrested
3
a
: something that brings censure or reproach
also : something to be regretted : pity
it's a shame you can't go
b
: a cause of feeling shame

shame

2 of 2

verb

shamed; shaming

transitive verb

1
: to bring shame to : disgrace
shamed the family name
2
: to put to shame by outdoing
3
: to cause to feel shame
4
: to force by causing to feel guilty
shamed into confessing

Synonyms of shame

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of shame in a Sentence

Noun He felt shame for his lies. How could you be so rude? Have you no shame? Her crimes brought shame upon her family. He had to endure the shame of being fired. Verb He was shamed by his behavior at the party. shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There can be a lot of shame in the discussion if parents are in debt, Kerner said. — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Not just shame but gross unfitness for serving in a role at a state university. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 There is no outcry among the 49ers to shame him or demand change in the hierarchy after his Sunday morning arrest in a prostitution sting. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shame

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shame was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing shame

Rhymes for shame

See All Rhymes for shame

Browse Nearby Words

shambolic
shame
shamedly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shame. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shame

1 of 2 noun
ˈshām How to pronounce shame (audio)
1
a
: a painful emotion caused by having done something wrong or improper
b
: ability to feel shame
have you no shame?
2
: dishonor entry 1 sense 1, disgrace
3
: something that brings disgrace or causes shame or strong regret
4
: something to be regretted : pity
it's a shame you'll miss the show

shame

2 of 2 verb
shamed; shaming
1
: to bring shame to : disgrace
2
: to cause to feel shame
3
: to force by causing to feel guilty
they were shamed into confessing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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