What does ashamedly mean?
Ashamedly is an adverb meaning in a way that shows shame, guilt, or embarrassment. It describes how someone behaves when they feel they have done something wrong or improper — often lowering their eyes, speaking quietly, or admitting a fault reluctantly. For example, one might ashamedly confess to forgetting an appointment or ashamedly return something taken without permission. The word derives from 'ashamed', an adjective formed from the noun 'shame', which comes from an ancient Germanic root related to covering or concealing oneself. In register, 'ashamedly' leans formal and literary; casual conversation tends to favor alternatives like 'sheepishly' or 'guiltily'. Its most natural companions are verbs of admission and apology, making it especially useful for describing moments of confession or contrition. Writers should note its antonym 'unashamedly', which describes bold behavior undertaken without any sense of disgrace — a contrast that makes the two words easy to confuse at speed but opposite in meaning.
adverbIn a manner showing shame, embarrassment, or guilt; with a feeling of having done something wrong or improper.
- With a feeling of guilt, embarrassment, or disgrace about something one has done.
"He ashamedly admitted he had never read the report."
"She ashamedly handed back the borrowed money she had never mentioned."
""I forgot your birthday," he said ashamedly, avoiding her eyes."
Ashamedly and shamefacedly both trace back to Old English 'sceamu' — a word so old it appears in Beowulf-era texts over a thousand years ago.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ashamedly
Ashamedly is formed from the adjective 'ashamed', which combines the prefix 'a-' with the past participle of the archaic verb 'shame', rooted in the Old English noun 'sceamu' meaning disgrace or dishonor. That Old English term traces back through Proto-Germanic roots connected to the notion of covering oneself in disgrace. The adverbial suffix '-ly' was added to produce this form, which has been used in English since at least the early modern period. Cognates appear across the Germanic languages, including Dutch 'schaamte' and German 'Scham'.
Related word forms
How ashamedly is actually used
The word carries a distinctly formal or literary tone; in everyday speech, speakers more often use phrases like 'with shame' or describe someone as acting sheepishly. It typically modifies verbs of admitting, confessing, apologizing, or physical gestures of embarrassment such as lowering one's head. The stress falls on the second syllable, and careful writers distinguish it from its near-opposite 'unashamedly'.
Easily confused with ashamedly
Ashamed is an adjective describing the feeling itself (he was ashamed), while ashamedly is the adverb describing how an action is performed in that state.
Unashamedly means doing something openly and without any shame — the direct opposite of ashamedly.