# abashing

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abashing
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. causing embarrassment

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

making you feel ashamed or very embarrassed.

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

- He felt an abashing sense of failure when he forgot his lines.
- The abashing realization of her mistake silenced her mid-sentence, leaving her to face the curious stares of the board members.

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

## Examples

- She gave him an abashing look that made him stop talking.
- The silence following his poorly timed joke was abashing, leaving him unsure of how to continue.
- There was something deeply abashing about the professor's calm correction of her error in front of the entire lecture hall, despite his polite tone.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.