Ashamed Synonym
We’ve all felt it – that sinking feeling in your stomach, the heat rising to your cheeks – shame. But when it comes to expressing this emotion in writing, relying solely on “ashamed” can leave your narrative a little flat. Fear not, fellow wordsmiths! Today, we’re diving into the vast ocean of synonyms for “ashamed,” each offering a unique shade of meaning to enrich your writing.
Why Use Synonyms for Ashamed?
While “ashamed” gets the job done, synonyms can elevate your writing in several ways:
- Nuance and Precision: Different synonyms capture the varying degrees of shame. “Mortified” suggests deeper humiliation than “sheepish,” while “contrite” implies remorse and a desire to make amends.
- Variety and Style: Stepping away from “ashamed” keeps your writing from becoming repetitive and injects freshness.
- Emotional Depth: The right synonym can paint a vivid picture of the character’s emotional state, drawing the reader deeper into the story.
Ashamed Meaning
Ashamed describes a feeling of distress or humiliation caused by the awareness of wrongdoing or inadequacy. It’s a complex emotion that encompasses several key elements:
- Guilt: A sense of responsibility for a negative action or outcome.
- Embarrassment: Self-consciousness or awkwardness due to being judged negatively by others.
- Regret: A longing for something to be different, often accompanied by a desire to make amends.
- Humiliation: A deep sense of shame that can be damaging to one’s self-esteem.
List of Synonyms for Ashamed
- Embarrassed
- Humiliated
- Mortified
- Abashed
- Chagrined
- Crestfallen
- Disgraced
- Discomfited
- Disconcerted
- Sheepish
- Guilty
- Remorseful
- Regretful
- Contrite
- Penitent
- Flustered
- Awkward
- Uncomfortable
- Self-conscious
- Red-faced
- Bashful
- Shy
- Blushing
- Confused
- Distressed
- Humble
- Repentant
- Sorrowful
- Sorry
- Apologetic
- Disappointed
- Dismayed
- Scorned
- Discredited
- Degraded
- Dissatisfied
- Depressed
- Despondent
- Unworthy
- Conscience-stricken
- Wretched
- Misunderstood
- Exposed
- Excluded
- Alienated
- Ostracized
- Reproachful
- Displeased
- Discouraged
- Unhappy
- Offended
- Pained
- Miserable
- Melancholy
- Desolate
- Despairing
Ashamed Synonyms with Examples
Here are synonyms for “ashamed” along with their meanings and examples:
- Embarrassed
- Meaning: Feeling self-conscious or awkward due to embarrassment.
- Example: She felt embarrassed when her mistake was pointed out in front of everyone.
- Humiliated
- Meaning: Feeling deeply embarrassed or ashamed.
- Example: He was humiliated by his failure in front of his peers.
- Mortified
- Meaning: Feeling extreme embarrassment or shame.
- Example: She was mortified when she realized she had been wearing her shirt inside out all day.
- Abashed
- Meaning: Feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
- Example: He felt abashed when he realized he had misunderstood the instructions.
- Chagrined
- Meaning: Feeling embarrassed or disappointed because of failure or humiliation.
- Example: She was chagrined by her inability to solve the puzzle.
- Crestfallen
- Meaning: Feeling disappointed or humiliated.
- Example: He looked crestfallen when he realized he had lost the competition.
- Disgraced
- Meaning: Feeling ashamed or embarrassed due to dishonor or disgrace.
- Example: After the scandal, he felt disgraced and avoided public appearances.
- Discomfited
- Meaning: Feeling uneasy or embarrassed.
- Example: She was discomfited by the unexpected attention from strangers.
- Disconcerted
- Meaning: Feeling unsettled or embarrassed.
- Example: His unexpected question left her disconcerted and speechless.
- Sheepish
- Meaning: Feeling embarrassed or ashamed, especially because of one’s actions.
- Example: He gave a sheepish smile after realizing his mistake.
- Guilty
- Meaning: Feeling responsible or remorseful for having done something wrong.
- Example: She felt guilty for not speaking up when she witnessed the injustice.
- Remorseful
- Meaning: Feeling regret or sorrow for past actions.
- Example: He was remorseful for his harsh words and apologized sincerely.
- Regretful
- Meaning: Feeling sorry or disappointed about a past event or action.
- Example: She was regretful that she hadn’t taken the opportunity when it arose.
- Contrite
- Meaning: Feeling deeply sorry for having behaved wrongly.
- Example: He appeared contrite as he apologized for his mistake.
- Penitent
- Meaning: Feeling or expressing regret for one’s wrongdoing.
- Example: She was penitent and promised to make amends for her actions.
- Flustered
- Meaning: Feeling nervous or confused, especially in a social situation.
- Example: He became flustered when asked to speak in front of a large audience.
- Awkward
- Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed in social situations.
- Example: She felt awkward at the party because she didn’t know anyone.
- Uncomfortable
- Meaning: Feeling uneasy or awkward.
- Example: He felt uncomfortable discussing personal matters with strangers.
- Self-conscious
- Meaning: Feeling excessively aware of oneself, especially in a social setting.
- Example: She felt self-conscious about her appearance at the party.
- Red-faced
- Meaning: Having a flushed or red complexion due to embarrassment.
- Example: She became red-faced when her mistake was pointed out.
- Bashful
- Meaning: Feeling shy or timid in social situations.
- Example: He was bashful around new people and found it hard to start conversations.
- Shy
- Meaning: Feeling nervous or timid in the presence of others.
- Example: She was too shy to speak up during the meeting.
- Blushing
- Meaning: Having a red or flushed face due to embarrassment.
- Example: She couldn’t help but blush when he complimented her.
- Confused
- Meaning: Feeling bewildered or perplexed.
- Example: He felt confused by the sudden change in plans.
- Distressed
- Meaning: Feeling upset or troubled.
- Example: She was distressed by the news of her friend’s illness.
- Humble
- Meaning: Feeling modest or unassuming.
- Example: Despite his success, he remained humble and down-to-earth.
- Repentant
- Meaning: Feeling regret or remorse for past actions.
- Example: He was repentant for the harm he had caused and sought forgiveness.
- Sorrowful
- Meaning: Feeling sadness or grief.
- Example: She felt sorrowful for the loss of her beloved pet.
- Sorry
- Meaning: Feeling regret or remorse for having caused pain or inconvenience.
- Example: He was genuinely sorry for forgetting her birthday.
- Apologetic
- Meaning: Feeling or expressing regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
- Example: She was apologetic for arriving late to the meeting.
- Disappointed
- Meaning: Feeling sad or displeased because something is not as expected.
- Example: He was disappointed that his team didn’t win the championship.
- Dismayed
- Meaning: Feeling disappointed or discouraged.
- Example: She was dismayed by the poor turnout at the event.
- Scorned
- Meaning: Feeling contempt or disdain for oneself.
- Example: He felt scorned by his own actions and vowed to do better.
- Discredited
- Meaning: Feeling ashamed or dishonored.
- Example: He felt discredited by the false accusations against him.
- Degraded
- Meaning: Feeling humiliated or lowered in dignity.
- Example: She felt degraded by the disrespectful treatment she received.
- Dissatisfied
- Meaning: Feeling discontent or displeased.
- Example: He was dissatisfied with the quality of the product he purchased.
- Depressed
- Meaning: Feeling sad or despondent.
- Example: She was depressed after losing her job.
- Despondent
- Meaning: Feeling hopeless or discouraged.
- Example: He became despondent after failing his exams.
- Unworthy
- Meaning: Feeling inadequate or not deserving of respect.
- Example: She felt unworthy of love and acceptance.
- Conscience-stricken
- Meaning: Feeling guilt or remorse for having done something wrong.
- Example: He was conscience-stricken after lying.
Ashamed Synonyms Infographic
Examples of Ashamed:
- A child feels ashamed after lying to their parents.
- A teenager gets caught cheating on a test and feels ashamed in front of their classmates.
- An adult forgets their anniversary present and feels ashamed to face their partner.