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Definition of abash

abash

/əˈbæʃ/
a · bash
Adverb:abashedly
•
Adjective:abashed
•
Past Simple:abashed
•
Past Participle:abashed
•
Present Participle:abashing
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abash Lexical Profile

abash Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To cause someone to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.

Example

"The professor's pointed critique was not meant to abash the student, but rather to encourage deeper analysis."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for abash
Antonyms
View all antonyms for abash

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, the active verb 'abash' is rare and predominantly replaced by its participial adjective 'abashed' or the negative 'unabashed' (meaning not embarrassed or disconcerted).

• Rhymes for abash

• Nearby Words

abandoned
abandoner
abandonment
abash
abashed
abashedly
abashment

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman abaischer and Old French esbahir ('to astonish, strike dumb'), formed from the prefix es- ('out') and baer ('to gape or yawn').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Abash. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/abash
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