abash

/ə'bæʃ/

Thân thiện

She felt abashed when she spilled her drink at the table.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to feel embarrassed, self-conscious, or disconcerted; to make someone feel ill at ease or ashamed, often by causing a sudden loss of composure or confidence.

Usage

The verb "abash" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person who is made to feel embarrassed). It is typically used in more formal or literary contexts. It describes the action of inducing a state of embarrassment or awkward self-awareness in someone else.

Examples

• Verb:
  • His critical remarks completely abashed the young speaker.
  • She was not abashed by their sudden attention; she continued her speech confidently.
  • Nothing could abash him; he was always self-assured.

Advanced Usage

• "to be abashed": This is the common passive construction, describing the state of feeling embarrassed.
  • He stood abashed before his teacher, realizing his mistake.
• "abashing" (present participle/adjective): Used to describe something that causes embarrassment.
  • She gave him an abashing look that made him apologize immediately.

Variants and Related Words

• Abashed (adj.): Feeling or showing embarrassment, self-consciousness, or discomfiture.
  • He had an abashed expression on his face.
• Abashment (n.): The state or feeling of being embarrassed.
  • Her abashment was evident when she forgot the lyrics on stage.

Synonyms

• Embarrass: To cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
• Disconcert: To disturb the composure of; unsettle.
• Mortify: To cause someone to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
• Fluster: To make someone agitated or confused.

Antonyms

• Encourage: To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
• Reassure: To say or do something to remove someone's doubts or fears.
• Comfort: To cause someone to feel less worried, upset, or frightened.

Học thuật

Verb

1. cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

Từ đồng nghĩa

• embarrass