abashed
Say it: uh-BASHT /əˈbæʃt/ · adjective
What “abashed” means
Embarrassed and suddenly unsure of yourself.
More precisely: Embarrassed, disconcerted or ashamed.
Example: “She looked abashed when her joke fell flat in the meeting.”
When to use it
For someone made embarrassed or awkward by criticism or attention. Slightly formal or literary, often describing a reaction.
Similar words
embarrassed, ashamed, discomfited
Quick check
You loudly correct a guide, then realise the guide was right. You lower your eyes and look…
defiant or abashed?
Show the answer
abashed
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