shameful

adjective

shame·​ful ˈshām-fəl How to pronounce shameful (audio)
1
a
: bringing shame : disgraceful
b
: arousing the feeling of shame
2
archaic : full of the feeling of shame : ashamed
shamefully adverb
shamefulness noun

Examples of shameful in a Sentence

There is no excuse for such shameful behavior. shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors
Recent Examples on the Web Mood swings can feel confusing, uncomfortable even shameful — sometimes simultaneously. Vanessa Kroll Bennett, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Stating the opposite is simply dishonest, and shameful and polarizing behavior. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 As at women’s colleges, the HBCUs were long the only places where Black Americans were welcomed, a shameful reminder of past inequities. Brennan Barnard, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Any program that practices punitive, shameful, controlling, coercive, intimidating behavior should be reprimanded, if not shut down. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 After devoting his life and career to public service and law enforcement, Mayorkas said the threat of impeachment, one of the rarest, most shameful rebukes a government official can face, is disappointing but has not shaken his commitment. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 The way he was treated in the House of Delegates during testimony last week was truly shameful. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 There are still a great many things about the Grammys that don’t work — for starters, the show’s near-exclusion of rap music, which, as Jay-Z also noted, remains as shameful as ever. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2024 After Vietnam, so many veterans were told that their war was wrong, shameful, a stain on their country. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shameful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shameful was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near shameful

Cite this Entry

“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shameful. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shameful

adjective
shame·​ful ˈshām-fəl How to pronounce shameful (audio)
1
: bringing shame
shameful behavior
2
: arousing the feeling of shame
a shameful sight
shamefully adverb
shamefulness
-fəl-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shameful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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