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Shaming Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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shaming

[ˈʃeɪmɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

public humiliation

The act of publicly embarrassing someone or making them feel ashamed. It can be done intentionally or unintentionally, and is often used as a form of social control or punishment.

Synonyms

disgrace, embarrassment, humiliation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shaming

Use this term when publicly criticizing someone, often to make them feel bad or guilty. This often happens on social media and has a negative connotation.

  • Online shaming can have serious consequences for people's mental health.
  • He faced shaming for his controversial remarks during the interview.
humiliation

Humiliation occurs when someone is made to feel ashamed or foolish, often in a public setting. It has a very strong negative impact and can be deeply damaging.

  • The public reprimand was an act of humiliation.
  • He felt deep humiliation when he was laughed at by his colleagues.
disgrace

This word is appropriate when someone's actions lead to a loss of respect or reputation. It is a more formal term and has a strong negative impact.

  • The politician's scandal brought disgrace to his entire family.
  • After the cheating incident, he lived in disgrace.
embarrassment

This word is used when someone feels awkward or self-conscious because of a mistake or awkward situation. It can be both mild and severe but does not necessarily carry a long-term negative impact.

  • She turned red with embarrassment when she realized her mistake.
  • The technical glitch caused a lot of embarrassment during the presentation.

Examples of usage

  • He experienced shaming when his private email was leaked to the press.
  • She felt the weight of shaming from her peers after the incident.
Context #2 | Verb

to embarrass or make someone feel ashamed

To cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed, often by publicly criticizing or mocking them. It can have a lasting impact on a person's self-esteem and mental well-being.

Synonyms

disgrace, embarrass, humiliate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shaming

Typically used to describe a situation where someone is being publicly criticized or made to feel ashamed, often in a social or online setting. Can have negative connotations.

  • Online shaming has become a common tactic in social media disputes.
  • She felt deep shaming after her private messages were leaked.
humiliate

Used when someone is intentionally made to feel extremely ashamed or foolish, often in a public setting. Strong negative connotation.

  • The teacher didn't mean to humiliate the student with her harsh criticism.
  • He felt humiliated when he realized everyone was laughing at his mistake.
embarrass

Often used in everyday situations to describe causing someone to feel awkward or self-conscious. Less severe than 'humiliate' or 'disgrace'.

  • I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your friends.
  • She was embarrassed when she realized she had a stain on her shirt.
disgrace

Used in more serious situations where someone has lost respect or honor due to their actions. Has a strong negative connotation and implies severe social or personal downfall.

  • The politician's involvement in the scandal brought disgrace to his reputation.
  • He left the company in disgrace after the fraud was discovered.

Examples of usage

  • The teacher was criticized for shaming the student in front of the class.
  • Parents should avoid shaming their children for making mistakes.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'shaming'

The word 'shaming' originates from the Old English word 'scamian', which means 'to shame or disgrace'. The concept of shaming has been present in human societies for centuries, often used as a tool for social control or punishment. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative effects of shaming on individuals' mental health and well-being, leading to discussions about the ethics of public shaming in the age of social media.

See also: ashamed, shame, shamed, shamefacedly, shameful, shamefully, shameless, shamelessly, shamelessness, unashamed.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,534, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.