ashamed

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/əˈʃeɪmd/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/əˈʃeɪmd/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ə shāmd)

WordReference Collins English Usage © 2026
ashamed - embarrassed
‘ashamed’
If you are ashamed, you feel sorry about something you did wrong.
He upset Dad, and he feels a bit ashamed.
They were ashamed to admit that they had lied.
You say that someone is ashamed of something, or ashamed of themselves.
Jen feels ashamed of the lies she told.
I was ashamed of myself for getting so angry.
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
‘embarrassed’
If you are embarrassed, you are worried that people will laugh at you or think you are foolish.
He looked a bit embarrassed when he noticed his mistake.
She had been too embarrassed to ask her friends.
You say that someone is embarrassed by something or embarrassed about it.
He seemed embarrassed by the question.
I felt really embarrassed about singing in public.
Be careful
Don't use ‘of’ in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, ‘He seemed embarrassed of the question.’
'ashamed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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