shame
UK: ʃeɪm | US: ʃeɪm
n. 1. A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
n. 2. A loss of respect or esteem; dishonor.
vt. 1. To cause someone to feel ashamed.
vt. 2. To bring disgrace or condemnation on someone.
The word "shame" traces back to Old English scamu, meaning "disgrace, dishonor." It shares roots with Old High German scama and Old Norse skömm, all conveying a sense of humiliation or moral failing. The Proto-Germanic skamō likely originated from the Proto-Indo-European (s)kem-, meaning "to cover" (metaphorically, hiding from disgrace). Over time, the word retained its core emotional and social connotations, evolving into its modern usage.
She felt a deep sense of shame after lying to her friend.
His actions brought shame upon the family.
The scandal shamed the entire organization.
There’s no shame in admitting you need help.
They tried to shame him into apologizing.