shame
noun · verb
Simple meaning
Reproach incurred or suffered.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
shaymIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈʃeɪm
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Reproach incurred or suffered; dishonour; ignominy; derision.
An uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of one's own impropriety or dishonor, or something being exposed that should have been kept private.
The capacity to be ashamed, inhibiting one from brazen behaviour; due regard for one's own moral conduct and how one is perceived by others; restraint, moderation, decency.
Something to regret.
That which is shameful and private, especially private parts.
A state of dishonor
“One mistake brought shame to all his family.”
verb
transitive
To denounce as having done something shameful; to criticize with the intent or effect of causing a feeling of shame.
Cause to be ashamed
transitive
To cover with reproach or ignominy; to dishonor; to disgrace.
transitive
To cause to feel shame.
Compel through a sense of shame
“She shamed him into making amends.”
transitive
To drive or compel by shame.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Reproach incurred or suffered; dishonour; ignominy; derision.
Used this way, shame is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly unfavourable pull. It sounds natural in ordinary conversation and in expressive writing alike.
- Emotional tone
- Negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Serious and weighty
- Usage feel
- Everyday but emotionally strong
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
How It’s Used
The word’s distinct uses, one example each.
Dishonornoun
“One mistake brought shame to all his family.”
Compel / driveverb
“She shamed him into making amends.”
More ways to use shame
- “One mistake brought shame to all his family.”noun
- “She shamed him into making amends.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Prostrate or semi-erect subshrub of tropical America, and Australia.
A motivating awareness of ethical responsibility.
A Bloody Mary made without alcohol.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Without shame.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.