a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior, a loss of respect or esteem; dishonor

hang one's head in shame, shame-faced, cry shame

shame on you, put to shame, shameless behavior

Formal and Informal Expressions of shame

In different contexts, you can replace 'shame' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'humiliation, disgrace' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'embarrassment, awkwardness' is a commonplace synonym.

shame: Explore its Definition & Usage

shame Definition

1a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
2a loss of respect or esteem; dishonor

Using shame: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "shame" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She felt a deep sense of shame for her actions.
Example
He brought shame upon his family with his criminal behavior.
Example
The company's unethical practices brought shame upon its reputation.
Example
I have no shame in admitting my mistakes.

shame Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for shame

Antonyms for shame

Idioms Using shame

hang one's head in shame
to feel embarrassed or ashamed about something one has done
Example
He hung his head in shame when he realized he had cheated on the test.
shame-faced
feeling or showing embarrassment or shame
Example
She looked shame-faced when she was caught stealing.
cry shame
to express strong disapproval of something
Example
It's a cry shame that so many people are still living in poverty.

Phrases with shame

shame on you
an expression of disapproval or disappointment towards someone's behavior
Example
Shame on you for lying to your parents.
put to shame
to cause someone or something to feel inferior or inadequate
Example
Her talent put all the other contestants to shame.
shameless behavior
behavior that shows no sense of shame or guilt
Example
His shameless behavior at the party was appalling.

Origins of shame

from Old English 'sceamu', meaning 'confusion, shame, disgrace'

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Summary: shame in Brief

The term 'shame' [ʃeɪm] refers to a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by one's own wrong or foolish behavior. It can also mean a loss of respect or esteem. Examples include 'She felt a deep sense of shame for her actions.' and 'The company's unethical practices brought shame upon its reputation.' Idioms like 'hang one's head in shame' and 'shame-faced' describe the physical manifestation of shame.