shameful

adjective

shame·​ful ˈshām-fəl How to pronounce shameful (audio)
Synonyms of shamefulnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To cede all of that ground to the executive, and to do so in such an obsequious way, is shameful. Ken Burns, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026 Officers have also said in Board of Correction meetings that our city should divert people with serious mental health needs into appropriate treatment, rather than relying on them to fill in for shameful gaps in our public health system. Jason Rodriguez, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026 Criticizing those who are actually out there touching it, smelling it, handling it, doing the work — that’s just absolutely shameful. Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026 Levi feared that the translator would mutilate the text by cutting any passages that struck him as unbearable or too shameful for future readers. Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shameful

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shameful. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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

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