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abashed

abashed

1 7.2
Feeling embarrassed and awkward after making a mistake or being corrected
  • adjective
  • /əˈbæʃt/
translation icon : avergonzado
  • Tom looked abashed.
  • feel abashed
  • looked abashed

Examples

  • I even felt abashed that they were gracious enough to make me feel as if I were doing them a big favor.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Abashed, the policeman began at once to explain.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I try to look as abashed as I feel.

    Blog text (34)
  • "I understand, sir," I said, feeling abashed.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • " Yeah, well, I hear you, " he admits, at least having the grace to look somewhat abashed.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Butterfield's reference was so short, so confident, that I felt abashed: this was surely something that everyone knew, that I did not.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Johnny is abashed and embarrassed, but Hampton and his sons treat him kindly.

    Academic text (2003)
  • He laughed, I remember, but looked abashed and sorrowful.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Lytol neither glared nor stared, but his look succeeded in making Corman feel abashed at having interrupted so rudely.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • After realizing his mistake, he felt abashed in front of the whole class.

Synonyms

ashamed
vsabashed
504 1.0

Feeling embarrassed and guilty about something you did or failed to do

is more about sudden social discomfort than deep guilt
awkward
vsabashed
311 2.7

Feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable in social situations

emphasizes internal sudden disconcertment from being socially caught
embarrassed
vsabashed
145 1.1

Feeling awkward, shy, or ashamed because of something you did

is more about sudden disconcertment often from being caught
bashful
vsabashed
18 3.2

Shy and easily embarrassed, avoiding attention

is a temporary reaction to social discomfort rather than a stable trait
mortified
vsabashed
10 4.9

Feeling very embarrassed and ashamed

is milder and less intense than this severe reaction
sheepish
vsabashed
9 4.0

Feeling embarrassed and a little shy because of a mistake

is more formal and broader than this timid reaction
ill at ease
vsabashed
6 5.5

Feeling uncomfortable or nervous around other people

is shorter lived and often caused by a single awkward event
chagrined
vsabashed
1 8.4

Feeling upset and embarrassed after failing or being corrected in front of others

focuses more on sudden social awkwardness than on failure result
humiliated
vsabashed
  • Offensive
1 3.7

Feeling ashamed and embarrassed because people laugh at you

is less intense and often private, a milder social embarrassment
shamefaced
vsabashed
1 6.5

Feeling or showing shame and embarrassment

is less about visible modesty and more about brief disconcertment
shamed
vsabashed
1 4.4

Feeling guilty and embarrassed after doing something wrong or being caught

is about temporary social discomfort rather than lasting disgrace
fazed
vsabashed
1 6.5

Not showing surprise or worry when something unexpected happens

centers on social shame rather than general disturbance or surprise

Antonyms

1.0

Feeling very pleased and good about something you or someone close did

715 2.5

Feeling sure about yourself or what will happen

How Embarrassed

humiliated
  • Offensive
1 3.7
ashamed
504 1.0
embarrassed
145 1.1
abashed
1 7.2
unfazed
5 5.3

Surface Forms

abashed positive

Morphology

abashed = abash (transparent) = abash + ed

The adjective is a regular past-participial/adjectival formation from the verb 'abash' with meaning directly derived: 'having been made embarrassed'.

Etymology

Abashed comes from old words meaning 'to make low' (the same idea as abase, 'to lower'). A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone made to feel small or 'low' in front of others, which is why abashed means embarrassed or ashamed.