to abash

Examples

• All

• Suddenly abashed by the attention they aroused, both groups melted into the surrounding crowds.

  Fiction book (1994)

• At Myron's silence, Teresa felt abashed again.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Oh! I'm so sorry!" He looked properly abashed.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Had me in stitches, and he was a bit abashed by the end.

  Blog text (10)

• The children, at first abashed, were soon playing happily, running around the house in opposite directions and giggling.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Willen looked a bit abashed, and his grin turned slightly sheepish.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I was deeply abashed by this insightful reprimand and said, "Honored Lady, how can I then repay the college?"

  Fiction book (2002)

• "I couldn't do it," she panted, slipping like a frantic cat into my kitchen, abashed and elated.

  Fiction book (1998)

• "You look just like your mother," Ann told the abashed Rick in front of his peers.

• Malcolm murmurs an apology, clearly abashed by Arda's response to his suggestion.

Synonyms

E

to embarrass

vsto abash

642 2.1

Make someone feel awkward or ashamed in front of others

causes brief self-consciousness rather than strong public shame

H

to humiliate

vsto abash

• Offensive

414 6.1

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

produces milder private self-consciousness rather than deep public disgrace

C

to confuse

vsto abash

4 2.4

Make someone feel embarrassed or uncomfortable by surprising them

is not limited to sudden attention and affects many social situations

A

to abase

vsto abash

• Formal

1 8.6

To make someone feel ashamed or lose respect for themselves

creates milder private awkwardness rather than active degradation

Antonyms

C

to comfort

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

E

to embolden

40 6.3

To give someone courage to do something

How Embarrassed

to humiliate

• Offensive

414 6.1

to embarrass

642 2.1

to abash

• Formal

2 8.3

to disconcert

7 7.1

Surface Forms

Etymology