sheepish

[ shee-pish ]
See synonyms for: sheepishsheepishness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. embarrassed or bashful, as by having done something wrong or foolish.

  2. like sheep, as in meekness, docility, etc.

Origin of sheepish

1
First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepish is from the Middle English word shepisshe; see sheep, -ish1

Other words from sheepish

  • sheep·ish·ly, adverb
  • sheep·ish·ness, noun

Words Nearby sheepish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sheepish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sheepish

sheepish

/ (ˈʃiːpɪʃ) /


adjective
  1. abashed or embarrassed, esp through looking foolish or being in the wrong

  2. resembling a sheep in timidity or lack of initiative

Derived forms of sheepish

  • sheepishly, adverb
  • sheepishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012