Word
shamefully
Phoneticsshame·ful·ly
UK/ʃˈeɪmfəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a bad way that should make someone feel ashamed. You use it when someone acts unfairly or does something clearly wrong.
adv. in a manner that deserves blame or disgrace; indicating conduct far below what is expected or decent. Often expresses strong moral disapproval of the action described.
Examples
“He behaves shamefully toward his younger brother.”
“The company treats its cleaners shamefully, paying them late and ignoring safety complaints.”
“The report shows that the museum neglected its archives shamefully, allowing rare letters to decay in damp boxes for decades.”
Examples
simple
“He behaves shamefully toward his younger brother.”
contextual
“The company treats its cleaners shamefully, paying them late and ignoring safety complaints.”
complex
“The report shows that the museum neglected its archives shamefully, allowing rare letters to decay in damp boxes for decades.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “shamefully” in context.
Verb
01. act shamefully
“He acted shamefully when he blamed his junior colleague.”
verb + adverb
02. behave shamefully
“The fans behaved shamefully after the final whistle.”
verb + adverb
03. shamefully exploit
“Some employers shamefully exploit young unpaid interns.”
adverb + verb
04. shamefully ignore
“They shamefully ignored warnings about unsafe housing.”
adverb + verb
05. shamefully neglect
“The council shamefully neglected repairs to the old estate.”
adverb + verb
Adjective
06. shamefully inadequate
“The official response to the flood was shamefully inadequate.”
adverb + adj
07. shamefully low
“Pay for care workers remains shamefully low in many regions.”
adverb + adj
08. shamefully poor
“Living conditions in the camp were shamefully poor for children.”
adverb + adj
09. act shamefully during negotiations
“They acted shamefully during negotiations to delay the deal.”
10. behave shamefully towards others
“He behaved shamefully towards others and refused to apologise.”
11. shamefully low wages
“Many cleaners still survive on shamefully low wages.”
12. shamefully neglected by authorities
“The historic district was shamefully neglected by authorities.”
Usage
Manner adverb — typically placed after the verb or object; can open a clause as a disjunct to express disapproval.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shamefully