abject shame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abject shame" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep, intense feeling of shame or humiliation, often in a context where one feels utterly defeated or degraded. Example: "After the scandal broke, he was left in a state of abject shame, unable to face his friends or family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

As the story sinks into tragedy, the searing, melodically haunting music expresses the inexpressible about infatuation, selfless love, foolish devotion, motherly bonding and abject shame.

The New York Times - Arts

Influenced by Sartre's existentialism and Rabelais's grotesque realism, and an American tradition from Twain to Norman Mailer, Oë created anti-heroes who wallow in abject shame and disgrace, disgusted at "civilisation".

The Guardian - Books

As someone who has read and reread, with a mixture of abject shame and contempt, dozens of letters from readers who noticed that I'd misidentified a church in a magazine article about Caravaggio, I hesitate to mention that when Hughes's book appeared in England some reviewers noted mistakes of fact and interpretation, particularly in the pages on antiquity.

The New York Times

As this stercoraceous vomit falls into my cupped and trembling hands, I turn my face away from the stage in abject shame.

Vice

Alabama Republican leaders who stand by Roy Moore will go to their graves knowing they were complicit in bringing abject shame upon the state of Alabama at a very crucial time in our nation's history— if in fact, Roy Moore gets elected.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Presumably he was shamed by his abject selfishness in taking two shots and missing both while generating one assist in his 10-plus minutes of playing time.

The New York Times - Sports

Alex Salmond the SNP foreign affairs spokesman, said: "Cameron is shaming not just the UK, he is shaming humanity with his total abject refusal to accept any joint collective responsibility".

The Guardian

Señor C seems to share Elizabeth Costello's neurasthenic tenderness toward the suffering of animals; and his sense of shame — as a South African; as an Australian, "the most abject of the so-called Coalition of the Willing"; and as a human animal — is essentially original sin deprived of a nameable theological origin.

The New Yorker

The Sun says: "To their shame the Metropolitan police, revelling in the new culture of secrecy launched by Lord Justice Leveson's abject inquiry, refused to identify him... even after his name was put to them for confirmation..

The Guardian

"SHAME! Shame!

The Economist

Of all the abject illusions!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abject shame", ensure the context clearly warrants such a strong expression. Reserve it for situations involving profound moral failure, public disgrace, or deep personal betrayal. Overusing it can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "abject shame" to describe mild embarrassment or minor mistakes. It signifies a far deeper level of humiliation and regret. Opt for words like "embarrassment" or "remorse" in less severe scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abject shame" functions as a noun phrase, where "abject" modifies the noun "shame". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the phrase typically describes a state of profound humiliation or disgrace. It intensifies the feeling of shame.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abject shame" is a grammatically sound and relatively infrequent phrase used to convey a very deep and intense feeling of shame or humiliation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correctly used in written English, predominantly in News & Media contexts. When choosing to use this phrase, consider alternatives to "utter disgrace" or "profound shame" depending on the desired nuance and intensity. Be mindful to reserve it for situations that genuinely warrant such a strong expression, avoiding overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profound shame

Replaces "abject" with "profound", indicating a deep and intense feeling of shame.

deep sense of shame

Adds "sense of" to soften the phrase, while retaining the meaning of profound shame.

overwhelming shame

Emphasizes the intensity of the shame by using "overwhelming" instead of "abject".

utter disgrace

Replaces "shame" with "disgrace", emphasizing the loss of reputation or honor.

complete humiliation

Substitutes "shame" with "humiliation", focusing on the feeling of being deeply embarrassed or degraded.

crushing shame

Uses "crushing" to convey the overwhelming and debilitating nature of the shame.

deep mortification

Uses "mortification" instead of "shame", highlighting the feeling of extreme embarrassment and wounded pride.

ignominious disgrace

Combines "ignominious" and "disgrace" to amplify the sense of public shame and dishonor.

degrading shame

Highlights the humiliating and debasing aspect of the shame experienced.

extreme embarrassment

Replaces both "abject" and "shame" with a more straightforward expression of intense discomfort and shame.

FAQs

How to use "abject shame" in a sentence?

Use "abject shame" to describe a deep, intense feeling of shame or humiliation, often in a context where one feels utterly defeated or degraded. For example: "After his lies were exposed, he felt "abject shame"."

What can I say instead of "abject shame"?

You can use alternatives like "utter disgrace", "complete humiliation", or "profound shame" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "abject shame" or "absolute shame"?

Both ""abject shame"" and "absolute shame" can be used, but "abject shame" suggests a deeper level of humiliation and degradation. "Absolute shame" can be a more general expression of shame.

What's the difference between "abject shame" and "deep regret"?

"Abject shame" implies a sense of disgrace and humiliation, while "deep regret" focuses more on sorrow or remorse for a past action. While they can overlap, shame carries a stronger connotation of dishonor.