to feel like a worm - Glite Dictionary

Examples

After failing the test, he really started to feel like a worm.
She felt like a worm when her classmates laughed at her mistake.
Even though it was a small error, it made him feel like a worm in front of everyone.

Synonyms

to feel like a fool

vsto feel like a worm

9 6.0

To be embarrassed and silly because of something you did

is an intense lasting shame tied to low self esteem not mere awkwardness

to feel like a schmuck

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

1 9.9

To feel foolish and embarrassed about something you did

is deeper shame and loss of self respect rather than social embarrassment

to feel like a total bumhole

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

9.9

To feel very ashamed and worthless after doing something embarrassing

is deeper internal humiliation and lasting sense of worthlessness

to feel like a louse

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

9.1

To be guilty and ashamed after treating someone badly

is deeper humiliation about feeling worthless rather than guilty regret

to feel like a total boob

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish or embarrassed because of a mistake

is more about deep humiliation and lacking self worth

to feel like a pillock

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish because of something you did

is deeper describing shame that reduces self worth rather than simple foolishness

to feel like a wally

vsto feel like a worm

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish and embarrassed because of something you did

is about deep consuming shame and low self worth instead of brief embarrassment

to feel like a dodo

vsto feel like a worm

Informal

9.6

To think you are silly after making a mistake

is deeper humiliation linked to worthlessness rather than simple silliness

Antonyms

feeling confident

46 3.0

Being sure you can do something well

to take pride

45 3.4

To feel pleased about something you or others do

How Humiliated

to feel like a worm

Offensive

9.1

mortified

10 4.9

humiliated

Offensive

1 3.7

ashamed

504 1.0

embarrassed

145 1.1

Surface Forms

feel like a worm infinitive

felt like a worm past

felt like a worm past participle

feeling like a worm present participle

feels like a worm third person singular

Morphology

feel + like + a + worm

The construction 'feel like a worm' is compositionally built from 'feel' + 'like' + 'worm', so a learner who knows these words can infer a comparison to a lowly or contemptible creature and therefore a general sense of low self-worth or smallness. However, the precise nuance of deep humiliation or shame is metaphorical and culturally colored (the negative connotations of 'worm' are not fully predictable), so the meaning is only partially derivable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Feel like a worm may come from the image of a small worm on the ground, low and helpless, as if it has no power. That's why it means 'to feel very ashamed or worthless'.