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Glite Dictionary
sheepishly

sheepishly

11 5.1
In a shy, embarrassed way after doing something wrong or silly
  • adverb
  • /ˈʃipɪʃli/
translation icon : avergonzadamente
  • When he realized he had mispronounced her name, he smiled sheepishly.

Or when people drive really sheepishly.

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Examples

  • Around midnight, one of the revelers sheepishly turned to the artist and spoke with an apologetic smile.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • "What?" Then he said sheepishly, "Gee-whiz, Scott, I'm a bundle of nerves, I guess."

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Later, I told him I was going to call, and he sheepishly said, "Wait, I'm scared!"

    Blog text (7)

  • "Definitely," said Father, sheepishly, and a moment later he added decisively: "Yes indeed."

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Harry considers this, then sheepishly puts his seatbelt back on.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Against all odds, Ralph Kisson won the drawing and sheepishly came forward to claim his prize.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • You have objections?" A bit sheepishly, Claude shook his head.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Rose stands sheepishly by the dining room table, half-crying as she adjusts her dress.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • We others followed sheepishly behind, stunned at the illegality of this, but undeniably thrilled.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Feeling helpless, I looked at Papachristos, who smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

shyly
vssheepishly
15 1.0

Behave in a quiet, nervous way around other people

is specific to awkward guilt after a small wrongdoing rather than simple shyness
self-consciously
vssheepishly
5 6.0

Acting embarrassed because you think people are watching you

is inner embarrassment after a small mistake rather than observation
bashfully
vssheepishly
1 3.5

In a shy, embarrassed way that avoids eye contact

is more about feeling foolish after an error than plain timidity
shamefacedly
vssheepishly
1 7.9

In a shy, embarrassed way

is milder and more shy after doing something foolish
ashamedly
vssheepishly
1 6.8

In a way that shows you feel shame

is less intense and more awkward than deep shame
embarrassedly
vssheepishly
1 4.6

In a way that shows someone is shy or awkward

is usually tied to feeling foolish after an action
abashedly
vssheepishly
8.1

In a way that shows someone is embarrassed

is quieter and more self-aware after making a mistake
blushingly
vssheepishly
5.8

In a way that makes someone's face go red because they feel embarrassed or shy

is more about awkward guilt than the physical reddening

Antonyms

confidently
36 2.9

In a way that shows a person is sure and not afraid

How Embarrassed

abashedly
8.1
sheepishly
11 5.1
bashfully
1 3.5

Surface Forms

sheepishly positive
sheepishlyer comparative
sheepishlyest superlative

Morphology

sheepishly = sheepish (semi-transparent) = sheep + ish + ly

The adverb is formed regularly from the adjective 'sheepish' with '-ly', but 'sheepish' itself is a metaphorical adjective derived from 'sheep' so the exact meaning is not fully literal.

Etymology

Sheepishly comes from the animal sheep and the ending -ish, which means 'like'. Because sheep are often seen as quiet and shy, to act sheepishly is to seem 'shy' or 'embarrassed', so you behave in a quiet, awkward way.