shame 1 of 2

noun

ˈshām How to pronounce shame (audio)
Definition of shamenext
1
as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing racked with shame over her actions of the previous week

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pity
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a shame you won't be able to come to the party

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in disgrace
the state of having lost the esteem of others left the room in shame after his angry outburst

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shame

2 of 2

verb

as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shame
Noun
That’s sort of a shame, and not only for San Antonio fans hoping for four or five more championships over the next decade. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 Once again, he was flooded with feelings of shame and disgust. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
As news of the allegations spread, some discussions were supportive of Doe, but others shamed her in conversations, a former member of Doe’s sorority, Delta Delta Delta, told NBC News. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 And if Bell was shamed by peers for his words at the time, it would have been justified. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shame
  1. remorse
  2. pity
  3. disgrace
  4. humiliate
  5. guilt
  6. discredit
  7. regret
  8. embarrass
Noun
  • The supremely overconfident Graver finally shows some remorse for the damage their dirty work has inflicted on innocent lives.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The judge also weighed mitigating factors, including that Molloy was experiencing difficult personal circumstances, stopped of his own volition and had shown genuine remorse.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of remorse
Noun
  • The pity of the judge who imprisoned them here was cold comfort for a group of people who had little reason to trust any legal authority.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the track eventually collides into a seasick wall of distortion that recalls lovesliescrushing’s weightless takes on shoegaze as Pitchkites sings of unmet expectations and self pity.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pity
Noun
  • These rosy reveries gradually darken as Wilde remembers succumbing to hedonism, deceit, debt, and disgrace.
    — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But Scott was mercifully lifted for Evan Phillips, who recorded the final out of the game to save the Dodgers from disgrace.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of disgrace
Verb
  • However, Rob Shuter is reporting that Meghan believes Kate purposefully humiliated her by recently taking Princess Charlotte on the London Underground.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • His daughter is humiliated, and the message could not be clearer.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of humiliate
Noun
  • Assane proclaims his innocence, but everything points to his guilt.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Maduro called the allegations false, while his wife, Cilia Flores, also denied guilt.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of guilt
Verb
  • Baker periodically deployed Darman to discredit and even destroy Baker’s rivals for Presidential attention in the Administration.
    — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of discredit
Noun
  • Shauf quit drinking in 2020, and while The Party contains its fair share of drunken regret, alcohol is a more central subject on the afterparty’s other two outtakes.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Harris, closer in age to his part than the women, moves and sounds like the old cowboys, with an affecting note of sorrow — the lion dying, and dying with regrets — sounding throughout his performance.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of regret
Verb
  • Chicago embarrassed Philadelphia, while the Eagles squandered a late lead against the Rams before suffering an improbable loss to the Jaguars in London.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Longhorns’ offense scored 17 points against a Florida defense that Missouri and South Carolina embarrassed.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrass

Browse Nearby Words

shambolic
shame
shamed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shame. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All