as in notorious
not respectable
shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors
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Recent Examples of shameful
The Midrashic text reasons that Rebekah died when Jacob was away and that only Esau was present for the burial—a situation that would have been shameful in that cultural context.
—
Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
This shocking cowardice and sheer abandonment of any pretense of ethics or values are rendered even more shameful when considering that Noem was brought down by polls, likely more than anything else.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Take the show’s unflinching portrayal of Black maternal mortality, one of America’s most shameful healthcare crises.
—Robert Raben, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Johanna’s mother felt the mother in the painting resembled her and implied something shameful about their family.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shameful
Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
This shocking cowardice and sheer abandonment of any pretense of ethics or values are rendered even more shameful when considering that Noem was brought down by polls, likely more than anything else.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Take the show’s unflinching portrayal of Black maternal mortality, one of America’s most shameful healthcare crises.
—Robert Raben, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Johanna’s mother felt the mother in the painting resembled her and implied something shameful about their family.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shameful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shameful
Adjective
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This is Bali in the slow lane, devoid of Ubud‘s notorious traffic jams and souvenir stores, and with barely any other hotels in the surrounding area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Around that time Uthmeier was one of the forces behind the construction of notorious Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention facility located in the Everglades inside the Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Named after the infamous Japanese suicide pilots of World War II, these kinds of drones can actively hunt for targets, track them, and then ram into them, detonating their explosive payloads.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
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In 2012, the gossip site Gawker, infamous for smearing conservative activists, published embarrassing footage of Hogan that had been secretly recorded and had no legitimate news value.—
George Harris,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In addition to serving as a showrunner, Levy stars as Nicky, an openly gay pastor who gets wrapped up in a shady underworld plot with his flailing sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega).—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
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They get captured by Hungarian gangsters and have to fight (and kill) their way out of an inn run by a shady former dance prodigy (Uma Thurman).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Lawyers for the church argue that Morris’ agreements with the church preclude him from those benefits if he was fired or resigned because of immoral behavior.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Michigan State Police said Robert Wilson, 44, of Gaylord, was arrested on March 25 and lodged at the Otsego County Jail on one charge each of accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While many of the California laws banning the political use of public office are civil statutes, one is a criminal statute.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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More than 58% of them had prior criminal convictions, while nearly 24% more had pending charges.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Heat repeatedly allowed open shots and unchallenged forays to the basket in another demoralizing and disgraceful defensive display, one made all the worse by the fact the Heat is fighting for playoff seeding.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Disrespectful, inappropriate, disgraceful!—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shameful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shameful. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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