ashamed

adjective

ə-ˈshāmd 

1

a

: feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace

She felt ashamed for hitting her brother.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Losing is nothing to be ashamed of.

He was deeply ashamed of his behavior.

b

: feeling inferior or unworthy

2

: reluctant or unwilling to do something because of shame or embarrassment

I was ashamed to be seen with him.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't know the answer.

ashamedly

ə-ˈshā-məd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of ashamed

• guilty

Examples of ashamed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For OneUnited, the show is a bet that the path to generational wealth runs not just through financial literacy, but through the stories people have been taught to be ashamed of. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

Mayor Gloria and the City Council should be ashamed of themselves. —U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

May the world know that Americans are ashamed and suffering and locked into despair and destruction, which now affects the world. —Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

There’s nothing to be ashamed of with our locker room right now from this game. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English āscamod, past participle of āscamian to shame, from ā- (perfective prefix) + scamian to shame — more at abide, shame

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ashamed

• counterclaimed
• unashamed
• abovenamed
• acclaimed
• declaimed
• defamed
• disclaimed
• exclaimed
• inflamed
• misnamed
• nicknamed
• proclaimed

Kids Definition

ashamed

adjective

ə-ˈshāmd 

1

: feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace

ashamed of my behavior

2

: kept from doing something by an expectation of shame

ashamed to beg

ashamedly

-ˈshā-məd-lē 

adverb