English Reference
adjective

abashing

adj.
abash·ing

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Literary

    making you feel ashamed or very embarrassed.

    tending to cause a loss of self-possession or a feeling of shame.

    Simple

    He felt an abashing sense of failure when he forgot his lines.

    In context

    The abashing realization of her mistake silenced her mid-sentence, leaving her to face the curious stares of the board members.

    Teacher's tip

    This word is quite rare in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in older literature or very formal writing.

    emboldeningreassuring
Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun to describe an external cause of embarrassment.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Rare
Updated