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The Difference Between Abashed and Unabashed
To abash someone is to shake up their composure or self-possession, as illustrated by Charlotte Brontë in her 1849 novel Shirley: “He had never blushed in his life; no humiliation could abash him.” When you are unabashed you make no apologies for your behavior, nor do you attempt to hide or disguise it; but when you are abashed your confidence has been thrown off and you may feel rather inferior or ashamed of yourself. English speakers have been using abashed to describe feelings of embarrassment since the 14th century, but they have only used unabashed (brazenly or otherwise) since the 15th century (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Examples of unabashed in a Sentence
Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
The electricity of this Ivanov can sometimes give it a lurid, Frankenstein-ish quality, and the unabashed intensity works.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
At times, the event felt like an unabashed promotional event for the city, from the speakers touting Oakland to the messages on the signs atop the stage.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
Making a film with a director so unabashed about his leftism was a new but grounding experience for Palmer.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unabashed
Cite this Entry
“Unabashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unabashed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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