ashamed
ashamed Lexical Profile
ashamed Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Feeling embarrassed, guilty, or remorseful because of one's own actions, characteristics, or associations.
"He felt deeply ashamed of how impatiently he had spoken to his younger brother."
Reluctant or unwilling to do something through fear of embarrassment, humiliation, or social disapproval.
"She was never ashamed to ask questions in class when she did not understand the lecture."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Ashamed" is a predicate adjective and is almost never placed directly before a noun; English speakers say "an ashamed person" very rarely, preferring "a person who is ashamed" or "a shamefaced person." It is typically followed by "of" or a to-infinitive.
• Rhymes for ashamed
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English "asceamod," the past participle of "asceamian" (to feel shame), formed from the intensive prefix "a-" and "sceamian" (to be ashamed).