shamefacedly
shamefacedly — adverb
1. with a manner or expression that makes your embarrassment or guilt obvious to ot
with a manner or expression that makes your embarrassment or guilt obvious to others because of something wrong or awkward you have done.
Jude smiled shamefacedly when his mother found the cookie crumbs on his shirt.
position after verb of speech/expression
Talia admitted shamefacedly that she had lost the keys her grandmother gave her.
Jisoo stared shamefacedly at the floor after the teacher asked who had broken the chair.
Dario mumbled shamefacedly that he had not finished any of the homework.
Tunde lowered his eyes shamefacedly when the librarian pointed to the overdue books.
- sheepishly
more informal, suggesting a mildly embarrassed grin
- abashedly
also formal, but emphasises social embarrassment rather than guilt
- proudly
opposite emotional posture
- shamelessly
suggests no guilt at all
文法句型
verb + shamefacedly
用法筆記
This adverb typically follows verbs of speaking (admit, confess, murmur) or expressions of emotion (smile, look, blush).
常見錯誤
shamefacedly — adjective
- shamefacedlypositive
- more shamefacedlycomparative
- most shamefacedlysuperlative
1. shy and modest in a way that shows you do not like receiving praise or attention
shy and modest in a way that shows you do not like receiving praise or attention.
The boy gave a shamefaced smile when the whole class clapped for his drawing.
collocation: shamefaced smile
Hamza looked shamefaced when his name was announced as the winner of the competition.
Ramón grew shamefaced and quiet whenever someone complimented his cooking.
Eliska gave a shamefaced little wave when the audience cheered for her song.
Ignacio sat in shamefaced silence while his grandfather praised him in front of the guests.
文法句型
be + shamefaced
look + shamefaced
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes shyness or modesty, not remorse for wrongdoing. It is the older, more literary meaning and is less common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. feeling or showing shame because you have done something wrong, foolish, or emba
feeling or showing shame because you have done something wrong, foolish, or embarrassing.
Ravindra looked shamefaced after breaking his neighbour's window with a football.
collocation: look shamefaced
Stephanie felt shamefaced about the harsh words she had shouted at her little brother.
David was shamefaced when the shop owner caught him trying to leave without paying.
The night-shift nurse looked shamefaced after mixing up two patients' medicine bottles.
A shamefaced apology was left on the kitchen table next to the broken vase.
- ashamed
more common; can take a that-clause or to-infinitive
- mortified
stronger; suggests deep humiliation
- embarrassed
less intense; everyday register
文法句型
feel + shamefaced
be + shamefaced
look + shamefaced
用法筆記
The more common of the two adjective senses. Unlike 'ashamed', which can be used with a that-clause ('ashamed that...'), shamefaced is almost always followed by 'about' or left without a complement.