Synonyms of shame

shame 1 of 2

noun

ˈshām 

1

as in remorse

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing

racked with shame over her actions of the previous week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remorse
• guilt
• regret
• remorsefulness
• sadness
• repentance
• contrition
• grief
• penitence
• rue
• sorrow
• self-reproach
• blame
• anguish
• embarrassment
• contriteness
• apology
• qualm
• compunction
• responsibility
• culpability
• chagrin
• misgiving
• scruple
• prick
• distress
• fault
• ruth
• excuses
• liability
• rap
• mea culpa
• hand-wringing
• bloodguilt
• bloodguiltiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impenitence
• remorselessness

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

• pity
• disgrace
• crime
• sin
• scandal
• outrage

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

• disgrace
• contempt
• humiliation
• dishonor
• ignominy
• stigma
• infamy
• disrepute
• disdain
• discredit
• reproach
• odium
• opprobrium
• obloquy
• scandal
• disapproval
• disesteem
• taint
• scorn
• despite
• degradation
• stain
• disapprobation
• dust
• abasement
• debasement
• blot
• brand
• deprecation
• humbling
• disfavor
• slur
• debasing
• shadow
• spot
• smirch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respect
• honor
• esteem
• fear
• regard
• appreciation
• admiration
• estimation
• glory
• reverence
• awe
• fame
• renown
• repute

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

• humiliate
• discredit
• disgrace
• embarrass
• humble
• dishonor
• confuse
• degrade
• insult
• demean
• rattle
• cheapen
• debase
• take down
• criticize
• abase
• chasten
• lower
• diminish
• foul
• sink
• ridicule
• minimize
• smirch
• detract
• disparage
• mortify
• belittle
• faze
• disconcert
• discount
• condemn
• confound
• decry
• libel
• slander
• affront
• write off
• depreciate
• fluster
• defame
• discountenance
• malign
• castigate
• discomfit
• cry down
• damn
• abash
• defile
• put down
• censure
• denounce
• nonplus
• bad-mouth
• execrate
• reprehend
• reprobate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honor
• applaud
• commend
• recognize
• celebrate
• congratulate
• praise
• acknowledge
• exalt
• boast
• elevate
• cheer
• compliment
• salute
• laud
• aggrandize
• cite
• extol
• highlight
• deify
• hail
• extoll
• acclaim
• canonize
• decorate
• eulogize
• tout
• spotlight
• dignify
• glorify
• promote
• fete
• magnify
• play up
• advance
• enshrine
• lift
• ennoble
• raise
• boost
• upgrade
• uplift
• fête
• enthrone
• idealize
• romanticize
• ensky

Examples of shame in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Brown complexion and eyes like mine send a wave of heavy shame through me. —Hazlitt, 14 Aug. 2024

Putting shame aside at the beach My decades-long exile from the sand now feels like an unforced error. —Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024

Verb

Hawk said the purpose of a study like this is not to shame individuals who smoke or drink or engage in other high-risk behavior, but rather to inform and educate. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Our strands are already regularly scrutinized and ridiculed, so much so that many Black women would rather avoid seeking medical treatment than risk being shamed by a medical professional who doesn’t understand their hair. —Annie Blay, Allure, 10 July 2024