shameful

Everyday

1. Causing shame; so bad or wrong that people should feel ashamed of it. tree →
2. Disgraceful; shocking in a bad way. tree →

In the lessons

In ethics lessons and stories: shameful behaviour, a shameful secret. In news: «a shameful decision». It judges an action, not just a feeling. Phrases: «a shameful thing», «it's shameful that», «shameful behaviour», «a shameful secret».

Examples

• It's shameful to laugh at someone who has fallen over. tree →
• Cheating in the test was a shameful thing to do. tree →
• The way they treated the new girl was shameful. tree →
• He kept the shameful secret for years. tree →
• It is shameful that the park is full of litter. tree →
• Leaving the dog without water all day was shameful. tree →
• What a shameful day for me! tree →

Note

Do not confuse with «ashamed» (feeling shame: «I'm ashamed») and «shameless» (feeling no shame when you should). Shameful describes the act; ashamed describes the person.

In Jewish tradition

"The shameful thing" is the prophets' name for the idol Baal, a word chosen so as not to say the idol's name with respect. Jeremiah says it "devoured" what the fathers worked for, and that altars to it stood in every street.

Interpretation. The rabbis explain that the word "shame" (bosheth) was used in place of Baal to show contempt for idol worship.

Examples

• But the shameful thing hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. (Prophets JER.3.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to offer unto Baal. (Prophets JER.11.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Do not confuse with «ashamed» (feeling shame: «I'm ashamed») and «shameless» (feeling no shame when you should). Shameful describes the act; ashamed describes the person.