What does "shameful" mean?

1. (disgraceful) very bad or dishonest in a way that should make someone feel ashamed. 2. (shocking or offensive) so bad that it is shocking or offends people's sense of what is right.

Is it correct to say "I felt shameful about my mistake."?

No — say "I felt ashamed of my mistake.". Use 'ashamed' to describe how a person feels. Use 'shameful' to describe the bad action or situation itself.

shameful

adj.

US //ˈʃeɪmfəɫ// UK //ʃˈeɪmfəl// shame·ful

1 disgraceful (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

very bad or dishonest in a way that should make someone feel ashamed.

meriting disgrace or strong moral disapproval due to a violation of ethical or social standards.

Example

The company's treatment of its oldest employees was truly shameful.

Example

The investigation revealed a shameful pattern of corruption that had been ignored by the board for over a decade.
Pitfall

I felt shameful about my mistake.

I felt ashamed of my mistake.

Use 'ashamed' to describe how a person feels. Use 'shameful' to describe the bad action or situation itself.
2 shocking or offensive (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

so bad that it is shocking or offends people's sense of what is right.

highly offensive or scandalous in nature; often used to describe public conduct or systemic failures.

Example

It is shameful that so many people are still living in such poor conditions.

Example

The politician's shameful remarks regarding the tragedy drew immediate condemnation from leaders across the globe.
- acceptable
- praiseworthy

Origin

From Middle English schameful, schamfull, from Old English *sċeamfull, sċeomfull, equivalent to shame + -ful. Cognate with Danish skamfuld (“shameful, shamefast, ashamed”).