What does unashamed mean?
Unashamed is an adjective describing someone who feels no shame, embarrassment, or need to apologize about a belief, quality, or action. In neutral or positive contexts, it can suggest confidence and openness: a person may be unashamedly proud of their work, curious about a new subject, or honest about needing help. In critical contexts, it suggests brazenness or a disregard for social expectations, especially when someone's conduct is considered improper. The word is more specific than simply “not ashamed,” because it often implies a conspicuous absence of self-consciousness or apology. It is commonly used with adverbs such as “completely” and “utterly,” and the related adverb “unashamedly” describes behavior performed without embarrassment. For example, someone might remain unashamed about enjoying a sentimental song, while a critic might call a blatant display of rudeness unashamed. The term is standard in everyday British and American English and can be approving, critical, or mildly ironic depending on context.
adjectiveFeeling or showing no shame, embarrassment, or need to apologize about oneself or one's actions; openly unapologetic. It can also suggest a lack of shame that others regard as brazen or improper.
- Feeling or showing no embarrassment or remorse; openly unapologetic.
- Lacking appropriate shame; brazen or morally objectionable.
"She was completely unashamed about loving the sentimental song and sang every line loudly."
"He was unashamed about admitting how much he enjoyed the performance."
"Rather than apologize, she met the criticism with an unashamed smile."
With one tiny prefix, “un-” can turn a private embarrassment into a public declaration of confidence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unashamed come from?
Unashamed is an English formation in un- plus ashamed, expressing the absence of shame or embarrassment. The compound was already in use by the late Middle English period and has developed into its modern sense of feeling no embarrassment and behaving without apology. Shame, ashamed, shameful, and shameless belong to the same broader etymological family.
Related word forms
How unashamed is actually used
The word may be approving when it describes confidence or openness, but critical when it describes conduct considered brazen or socially improper. It can also be used ironically.
Easily confused with unashamed
Unashamed focuses on feeling or displaying no embarrassment, often neutrally or approvingly, whereas shameless usually suggests a moral disregard for what is right or proper.