Meaning & use
shameless
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Showing no embarrassment or guilt about behavior that most people would find wrong or embarrassing.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a shameless liar; he is shameless.
Patterns
- shameless about something
- a shameless liar
It was a shameless attempt to get free tickets.
He is shameless about asking for favors.
The shameless thief returned the next day.
adjectivebefore a nounhumorousinformal
Open and unashamed about something enjoyable, said playfully rather than critically.
Grammar: Often used humorously: a shameless fan.
Patterns
- shameless fan
- shameless flirt
I am a shameless fan of cheesy romantic comedies.
She gave a shameless plug for her bakery.
He is a shameless dog lover.
Word forms
| comparative | more shameless |
|---|---|
| superlative | most shameless |
Common combinations
- shameless liar
- He's a shameless liar who never apologizes.
- shameless flattery
- The shameless flattery embarrassed everyone.
- shamelessly lie
- She shamelessly lied to the officials.
- shameless self-promotion
- The post was shameless self-promotion.
- shameless attempt
- It was a shameless attempt to win votes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- brazen
- Brazen suggests bold, open defiance, while shameless focuses on lacking embarrassment.
- unashamed
- Unashamed is milder and can be positive, as in being open about who you are.
- barefaced
- Barefaced describes a lie or act done openly without trying to hide it.
- unabashed
- Unabashed means not embarrassed, often in a harmless context.
Opposites
Word family
- shame noun
- a painful feeling of guilt or embarrassment
- shamelessly adverb
- without shame
- shamelessness noun
- lack of shame
- ashamed adjective
- feeling shame
- shameful adjective
- causing shame
Commonly confused: shameless or shameful? shameless or ashamed?
shameless vs shameful
Shameful describes something that deserves shame, while shameless describes someone who feels none.
shameless vs ashamed
Ashamed means feeling shame, which is the opposite of shameless.
Practice
Someone who lies openly and feels no embarrassment is best described as ___.
Choose one answer.
Shameless means without embarrassment. Shameful describes a deed that deserves shame, which is a tempting but different word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shameless”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.