ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shaming

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈʃeɪmɪŋ// UK //ʃˈeɪmɪŋ// sham·ing

n. the act of making someone feel bad or embarrassed about something they did or a part of who they are. It is often done publicly to show that their behavior is not acceptable.

n. the act of subjecting someone to public humiliation or disgrace, often as a form of social control or punishment. Uncountable when referring to the general practice; countable when referring to a specific instance.


SIMPLE

Online shaming can be very harmful to a person's mental health.

CONTEXTUAL

The public shaming of the politician followed the leak of his private messages to the press.

COMPLEX

Sociologists argue that while shaming was once a localized tool for maintaining community standards, the digital age has amplified its reach, often resulting in disproportionate consequences for the individual.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Often used in compound nouns like 'body shaming' or 'fat shaming' to specify the target of the criticism.

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