ENGLISH
REFERENCE

abashing

abash·ing
  1. 1 causing embarrassment (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    making you feel ashamed or very embarrassed.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.

Usage

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

© 2026 English Reference