complete shame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete shame" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to express a strong feeling of disappointment or regret about a situation, but it is better to use it in a context that clarifies its meaning. Example: "It is a complete shame that the event was canceled at the last minute."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's a complete shame the way this country separated from its natural brother, England.

The New Yorker

The lack of taxpayers stepping up and the government stepping up, and the allowing of third party audits that are in many respects a complete shame, is just really frustrating.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Li et al.'s study started with a list of 83 words that were related to 羞 xiu "shame/shyness," 耻 chi "disgrace," and 辱 ru "humiliation/shame" in the dictionary; the list was then expanded to 113 words and phrases by 10 native speakers; finally, the complete list of shame expressions were submitted to a judgment experiment for emotion sub-type with a separate group of 52 native speakers.

Lingua Sinica

"There are so many people who are braver than me, who lived lives in complete denial and shame because they didn't feel like they could acknowledge who they were".

Huffington Post

In her recent essay on the Mister Cee controversey, transgender activist Janet Mock calls attention to a difficult hurdle we face in living complete lives: the shaming of men who are attracted to trans women.

Huffington Post

The first episode alone featured 15-year-old protagonist Nathan losing his virginity to the libidinous 29-year-old Stuart, an act still astonishing (as is the entire series) for its complete, confrontational lack of shame.

BBC

Complete, golden and beyond shame.

Huffington Post

Moran once said that her strength as a writer was her complete and utter lack of shame.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's a big shame and a complete sign of neglect on their part".

BBC

What I distinctly recall about these moments was the complete lack of inhibition, of shame, of nervousness.

Huffington Post

The scientists asked 36 couples who had filed for divorce in Belgium to complete surveys that measured guilt, shame and regret as well as their negotiating style.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "complete shame", ensure the context clearly indicates what you are expressing disappointment or regret about. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "complete shame" is acceptable, it can sound somewhat informal or melodramatic in certain professional settings. Consider alternatives like "significant setback" or "regrettable situation" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete shame" functions as an expressive phrase to convey a strong sense of disappointment or regret. It modifies the noun "shame" to intensify the feeling, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "complete shame" is used to express a strong sense of disappointment or regret. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI analysis suggests it is relatively rare and might sound somewhat awkward to native English speakers. The phrase is used in both News & Media and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's important to use it in a context that clearly defines what you are expressing disappointment about to avoid ambiguity. For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "significant setback" or "regrettable situation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter disgrace

Replaces "shame" with "disgrace" to intensify the negative sentiment.

total embarrassment

Substitutes "shame" with "embarrassment", focusing on the feeling of humiliation.

a crying shame

Emphasizes the regrettable nature of the event, implying a strong sense of sorrow or injustice.

absolute travesty

Emphasizes the injustice or absurdity of the situation.

complete letdown

Focuses on the disappointment caused by something failing to meet expectations.

total disappointment

Directly expresses the feeling of being let down.

utter failure

Highlights the lack of success or achievement.

complete disaster

Emphasizes the catastrophic nature of the event or situation.

absolute misfortune

Highlights the unfortunate nature of the event.

a real pity

Downplays the negativity, focusing on the sadness or regret.

FAQs

What does "complete shame" mean?

The phrase "complete shame" expresses a strong feeling of disappointment, regret, or disapproval about something. It suggests that a situation or event is highly unfortunate or undesirable.

What can I say instead of "complete shame"?

You can use alternatives like "utter disgrace", "total embarrassment", or "absolute travesty" depending on the context.

How do you use "complete shame" in a sentence?

You can use "complete shame" to express regret over an event or situation. For example, "It's a "complete shame" that the project failed after so much effort."

Is it better to say "complete shame" or "utter shame"?

Both "complete shame" and "utter shame" are valid, but "utter shame" might sound slightly more impactful due to its stronger emphasis. The choice depends on the specific tone you want to convey.