SHAME
Dictionary entry overview: What does shame mean?
• SHAME (noun)
The noun SHAME has 3 senses:
1. a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
2. a state of dishonor
3. an unfortunate development
Familiarity information: SHAME used as a noun is uncommon.
• SHAME (verb)
The verb SHAME has 4 senses:
1. bring shame or dishonor upon
2. compel through a sense of shame
3. cause to be ashamed
4. surpass or beat by a wide margin
Familiarity information: SHAME used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• SHAME (noun)
Meaning:
A painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
Classified under:
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions
Hypernyms ("shame" is a kind of...):
feeling (the experiencing of affective and emotional states)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shame"):
conscience (a feeling of shame when you do something immoral)
self-disgust; self-hatred (shame resulting from strong dislike of yourself or your actions)
embarrassment (the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public)
Meaning:
A state of dishonor
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
disgrace; ignominy; shame
Context examples:
one mistake brought shame to all his family / suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison
Hypernyms ("shame" is a kind of...):
dishonor; dishonour (a state of shame or disgrace)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shame"):
humiliation (state of disgrace or loss of self-respect)
obloquy; opprobrium (state of disgrace resulting from public abuse)
odium (state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior)
reproach (disgrace or shame)
Meaning:
An unfortunate development
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
pity; shame
Context example:
it's a pity he couldn't do it
Hypernyms ("shame" is a kind of...):
bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)
• SHAME (verb)
Meaning:
Bring shame or dishonor upon
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame
Context example:
he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shame"):
befoul; defile; foul; maculate (spot, stain, or pollute)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The performance is likely to shame Sue
Meaning:
Compel through a sense of shame
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
She shamed him into making amends
Hypernyms (to "shame" is one way to...):
compel; obligate; oblige (force or compel somebody to do something)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Sentence examples:
They shame him to write the letter
The performance is likely to shame Sue
Meaning:
Cause to be ashamed
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Hypernyms (to "shame" is one way to...):
arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shame"):
discountenance (look with disfavor on)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Meaning:
Surpass or beat by a wide margin
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "shame" is one way to...):
exceed; outdo; outgo; outmatch; outperform; outstrip; surmount; surpass (be or do something to a greater degree)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam cannot shame Sue
