to shame

Examples

• All

• What's even worse is that other people may shame you for being discerning.

  DoctorRamani

• You shamed a massive Japanese corporation in open court.

  I Can't Breathe (God Forgive Them) (2022)

• Will I ever get to a point where I will not shame my mother?

  Fiction book (1991)

• Did you worry then that this behavior might shame victims from coming forward?

  Megyn Kelly

• They're going to try to shame you into that.

  Film Courage

• A narcissistic person invariably will shame you or doubt your commitment.

• You have shamed me.

  Hack-O-Lantern (1988)

• Don't shame me.

  Starsky & Hutch (2004)

• She tried to shame him into apologizing for his harsh words.

• The teacher decided to shame the student for not completing his homework by publicly addressing the issue.

Synonyms

E

to embarrass

vsto shame

642 2.1

Make someone feel awkward or ashamed in front of others

is stronger often used to pressure via those feelings

H

to humiliate

vsto shame

• Offensive

414 6.1

Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others

can also occur privately and be used to pressure through those feelings

P

to pressure

vsto shame

149 4.2

To try to make someone do something

uses feelings of personal blame to push someone rather than direct coercion

D

to disgrace

vsto shame

62 4.5

To make someone lose respect or honor by doing something shameful

focuses on internal blame and pressure rather than on public status

H

to humble

vsto shame

58 5.3

To make someone feel less proud or important

focuses on making someone feel bad internally rather than lowering status

D

to dishonor

vsto shame

• US

48 5.3

To make someone or something lose respect by bad action

refers more to harming reputation than to directly making someone feel bad

M

to mortify

vsto shame

22 6.9

To make someone feel very embarrassed or ashamed

is usually less intense and often used to pressure someone

G

to guilt

vsto shame

18 7.4

To make someone feel ashamed or responsible so they do something

is also used to make someone feel bad without directly aiming to change actions

H

to hurt pride

vsto shame

5.5

To make someone feel embarrassed and less confident

often aims to make someone feel responsible or to pressure them

Antonyms

E

to encourage

∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

P

praise

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Idioms

C

crying shame

• Informal

6 4.6

A very sad situation that makes people feel sorry

Phrasal Verbs

N

to name and shame

• Literature

1 6.3

Publicly say which people or groups did something wrong so others will say bad things about them

Compounds

S

sense of shame

5 4.9

A feeling of guilt that makes you try not to do something wrong

B

bloody shame

• UK

8.6

A spicy tomato drink without alcohol like a Bloody Mary

C

cone of shame

• Informal

7.6

A plastic collar put on a pet to stop it from licking or biting wounds

D

deuced shame

• Archaic

9.9

A great pity or disappointment

D

durn shame

• Informal

9.9

A feeling of regret or disappointment about something unfortunate

S

shame plant

9.2

A plant whose leaves fold when touched or at night

How Humiliating

to mortify

22 6.9

to humiliate

• Offensive

414 6.1

to shame

170 3.9

to embarrass

642 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology