Shame Meaning
Shame Definition & Usage
A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.
Examples
- "She felt a deep sense of shame when she realized she'd been lying to her friends."
- "After cheating on the test, Mark couldn't shake the feeling of shame."
- "His shame was evident in the way he avoided eye contact."
- "The shame of being caught in a lie haunted him for weeks."
- "She wore her shame like an invisible cloak, always aware of how others saw her."
To cause someone to feel shame or humiliation.
Examples
- "The public scandal shamed the politician into resignation."
- "Her harsh words shamed him into apologizing."
- "It was wrong of him to shame her in front of the whole class."
- "The brutal punishment shamed the young boy, making him more withdrawn."
- "His inability to meet expectations shamed him in the eyes of his peers."
A state of disgrace, dishonor, or a condition that is considered shameful by society.
Examples
- "The scandal brought shame upon the entire family."
- "The nation's leaders were steeped in shame after the corruption was revealed."
- "His actions brought shame to the prestigious institution he represented."
- "There was a shame attached to the incident that lasted for generations."
- "She felt the shame of her heritage, burdened by her family's criminal past."
Cultural Context
Shame has been a crucial element of human social dynamics, often used as a mechanism for social control. In many cultures, shame is considered an effective means of ensuring moral behavior, guiding individuals to conform to societal expectations. In other contexts, shame is seen as a negative emotional state, often leading to psychological harm if experienced excessively.
The Burden of Shame
Story
The Burden of Shame
It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon when Emily realized the full weight of her actions. The guilt had been there for days, but today it was accompanied by something worse: shame. She had lied to her best friend about her whereabouts, and now she couldn't look her in the eye. Every time she tried to apologize, the words felt too heavy, like they couldn't possibly make up for the hurt she had caused. Her mother had always told her that honesty was the most important thing, but in the moment, she had made a choice to hide the truth. It wasn't until she saw the disappointment in her friend's eyes that Emily truly felt the emotional weight of her deceit. The shame was palpable, almost as if it clung to her skin. As she sat alone in her room, thinking about what she had done, the shame transformed into something deeper. It wasn't just about the lie anymore; it was about the person she had become. She had shamed herself in front of the one person who trusted her the most. The next day, Emily gathered all her courage and went to see her friend. She apologized, not just for the lie, but for betraying the trust that had been so carefully built between them. Her friend's forgiveness was almost immediate, but the shame still lingered in Emily's heart. It would take time to fully mend what had been broken, but she knew this lesson would stay with her forever. This experience taught her that shame, while painful, could be a powerful motivator for change. It could bring about growth if one acknowledged it and used it as a tool for personal reflection. She learned that shame, when properly dealt with, could be a means of becoming a better, more honest person.
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