Word
shameless
Phoneticsshame·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃeɪmɫəs/
UK/ʃˈeɪmləs/
Definitions
01brazen or without guilt
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. doing something bad or embarrassing without feeling sorry or shy about it.
adj. showing a lack of shame, guilt, or embarrassment, especially regarding behavior that others find offensive or wrong.
“The politician told a shameless lie even though everyone knew the truth.”
“The company showed a shameless disregard for safety regulations, prioritizing quarterly profits over the well-being of their workforce.”
Synonyms
02immodest
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. showing no respect for social rules about how to behave or dress.
adj. behaving in a way that is considered immodest or lacking in social decorum.
“In the old novel, the character was described as shameless for dancing so wildly.”
“The Victorian critics condemned the play as shameless, shocked by its frank depiction of romantic desire.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to criticize a person's actions or character.
Etymology
From Middle English shameles, shamelees, schameles, schomeles, schomeleas, from Old English sċamlēas, sċeamlēas (“without shame; shameless”), from Proto-Germanic *skamalausaz (“shameless”), equivalent to shame + -less. Cognate with West Frisian skamteleas (“shameless”), Dutch schaamteloos (“shameless”), German schamlos (“shameless”), Danish skamløs (“shameless”), Swedish skamlös (“shameless”), Icelandic skammlaus (“shameless; unashamed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
The word in film
Shameless · Comedy
- Directed by:
- John Wells
- Starring:
- Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy, Joan Cusack
William H. Macy stars in this long-running comedy series about a large, poor family in Chicago. The title describes the father, who constantly lies and steals from his own children without ever feeling guilty about his behavior.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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