Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

Shaming

 - 3 dictionary results

shame

[sheym] noun, verb, shamed, sham⋅ing.
–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)
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.
8. for shame! you should feel ashamed!: What a thing to say to your mother! For shame!
9. put to shame,
a. to cause to suffer shame or disgrace.
b. to outdo; surpass: She played so well she put all the other tennis players to shame.

Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE sc(e)amu; c. G Scham, ON skǫmm; (v.) ME schamen, shamien to be ashamed, OE sc(e)amian, deriv. of the n.


sham⋅a⋅ble, shame⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sham⋅a⋅bly, shame⋅a⋅bly, adverb


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.


1. pride, self-esteem, self-respect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Shaming
shame   (shām)   
n.  
    1. A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace.

    2. Capacity for such a feeling: Have you no shame?

  1. One that brings dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation.

  2. A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy.

  3. A great disappointment.

tr.v.   shamed, sham·ing, shames
  1. To cause to feel shame; put to shame.

  2. To bring dishonor or disgrace on.

  3. To disgrace by surpassing.

  4. To force by making ashamed: He was shamed into making an apology.


[Middle English, from Old English sceamu.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

shame  (n.)
O.E. sceamu, sceomu "feeling of guilt or disgrace," from P.Gmc. *skamo (cf. O.S. skama, O.N. skömm, Swed. skam, O.Fris. scome, Du. schaamte, O.H.G. scama, Ger. Scham), probably from PIE *skem-, from *kem- "to cover" (covering oneself being a common expression of shame). An O.N. word for it was kinnroði, lit. "cheek-redness," hence, "blush of shame." Gk. distinguished shame in the bad sense of "disgrace, dishonor" (aiskhyne) from shame in the good sense of "modesty, bashfulness" (aidos). The verb is O.E. sceamian (cf. Ger. schämen sich).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Shaming on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: