shameful

shameful — adjective

1. Something shameful makes you feel ashamed or is something you should be blamed f

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Something shameful makes you feel ashamed or is something you should be blamed for, because it goes against what is morally right.

Example

It was shameful that the restaurant threw away so much food every night.

that-clause pattern: it + be + shameful + that…

It is shameful to treat your colleagues with such disrespect.

to-infinitive pattern: it + be + shameful + to…

Common collocations
  • shameful behaviour
  • shameful treatment
  • shameful defeat
  • shameful conditions
  • shameful neglect
  • utterly shameful
  • deeply shameful
Synonyms
  • disgraceful

    Stronger than 'shameful'; implies a loss of respect or reputation in the eyes of others.

  • dishonourable

    Focuses on a violation of honour, integrity, or moral principles; more formal.

  • outrageous

    Emphasises shock or offence caused by the action; less specific to moral shame.

Antonyms
  • honourable

    Describes actions that deserve respect and admiration.

  • praiseworthy

    Focuses on actions that earn approval, the opposite of being blamed.

Grammar Patterns

it + be + shameful + that-clause

it + be + shameful + to-infinitive

noun + be + shameful

Usage Note

Describes actions, situations, or conditions — not a person's internal feeling. For the personal emotion, use 'ashamed' (e.g., 'I felt ashamed', not 'I felt shameful').

Common Mistakes

I felt shameful about lying to my parents.
I felt ashamed about lying to my parents.
'shameful' describes the action (lying), not how the person feels.
He was shameful of his past mistakes.
He was ashamed of his past mistakes.
'ashamed of' is the correct pattern for personal regret or embarrassment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe actions that deserve blame or cause shame, but they differ in nuance and scope. 'Shameful' is the most general word — it covers any action that makes you feel ashamed or deserves blame, from personal betrayals to social injustices. 'Disgraceful' is stronger, implying a public loss of good reputation: a politician caught lying faces disgraceful exposure, whereas a shameful secret might stay private. 'Dishonourable' focuses on broken honour or integrity, often in military, professional, or ethical contexts — a soldier who abandons his post commits a dishonourable act. 'Ignominious' is the rarest and most formal, carrying overtones of public humiliation and failure, particularly in historical or political writing: an ignominious defeat leaves a lasting stain. In everyday speech, 'shameful' and 'disgraceful' are common; 'dishonourable' is more formal; 'ignominious' belongs to formal writing.

disgracefuldishonourableignominious

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • it is shameful that…
  • it is shameful to…
  • something is shameful
  • a shameful episode in…

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'sceamful', which originally meant 'modest' or 'bashful' (feeling shame). The meaning shifted in the 14th century from 'feeling shame' to 'causing shame' — the sense we use today. The word is formed from 'shame' (the painful feeling of dishonour) plus the suffix '-ful' (full of).