What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mortified
Example
I was mortified when I realized I had spinach in my teeth during the entire meeting. [mortified: adjective]
Example
She felt mortified after realizing she had accidentally sent the email to the wrong person. [mortified: past participle]
ashamed
Example
He was ashamed of himself for lying to his parents. [ashamed: adjective]
Example
She felt ashamed for not standing up for her friend when she was being bullied. [ashamed: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ashamed is more commonly used than mortified in everyday language. Ashamed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mortified is less common and may be considered more formal or dramatic.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between mortified and ashamed?
Mortified may be considered more formal or dramatic than ashamed, which is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
