it shames him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it shames him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone feels embarrassed or humiliated due to their actions or circumstances. Example: "When he realized the mistake he made in front of his colleagues, it shames him deeply."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It shames him.

The New Yorker

His all-important tattoo is left to the imagination, but we learn he had it done "in a fit / of rage" and it shames him, although he makes a joke of it ("That's why I keep my clothes on").

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He understood there was something about himself so sensitive, a tuning-fork tremulousness, that it was almost as though it shamed him, and he put on the he-man act".

The New York Times

It shamed him that he had thought so little of her, a woman not really known to him, and then only because she'd been embarrassing and even a nuisance.

The New Yorker

Advertising, though it shamed him, paid for travel; he had visited India many times before, now he began to put together a book of photographs about the country, many full of uncharacteristic serenity.

The Guardian - Arts

It had shamed him to long for the house, and now he owned it.

The New Yorker

It had shamed him not to share her uncontrolled weeping during the movie, or her tears for the baby rabbits eaten by their father, but for the pity he now felt for lovers, especially himself, he was grateful.

The New Yorker

I am sorry that I brought you with me on this journey!" I was very shamed by the manner of how the men spoke to me, and I did not want to inform my grandfather of what occurred, because I knew that it would shame him also.

The New Yorker

Because he don't have to give, and then he sees the woman asking him to give, so he'll just get angry because it's shaming him.

Conflict and Health

My flatmate named this player "Josh" (he was also called Josh), but it was only after we'd discovered this and duly shamed him for it that we all had a go and realised it was actually kind of cool to have a team with a huge player in the middle of the park who could swat away the opposition and score 30-yard screamers more or less at will.

Vice

Also, earlier that day there was a munted guy publicly masturbating to the band Pvris, so I took it upon myself to publicly shame him.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it shames him" when you want to convey that something causes someone to feel a deep sense of embarrassment or dishonor, often due to a perceived flaw or mistake.

Common error

Avoid using "it shames him" when a milder term like "embarrasses" or "disappoints" would be more appropriate. The phrase carries a significant weight of negative emotion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "it shames him" is that of a clause where "it" functions as the subject, "shames" as the transitive verb, and "him" as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it shames him" is a grammatically correct phrase used to convey that something causes someone to experience a deep feeling of shame or humiliation. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is suitable for use in written English. While relatively neutral in formality, it's important to be mindful of the intensity of the phrase and avoid using it when a milder expression would be more appropriate. This phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. Related phrases include "it embarrasses him" or "it humiliates him", offering alternative ways to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it embarrasses him

Replaces "shames" with a more common synonym, focusing on a feeling of awkwardness or discomfort.

it humiliates him

Emphasizes the feeling of being degraded or lowered in status.

it mortifies him

Highlights a strong feeling of shame and embarrassment, often in a social context.

it makes him feel ashamed

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the feeling of shame.

it causes him shame

Uses a more formal and direct construction to express the causation of shame.

it fills him with shame

Emphasizes the intensity and pervasiveness of the feeling of shame.

it is a source of shame for him

Highlights the situation or action as the origin of his shame.

it brings shame upon him

Indicates that the shame is being imposed or inflicted upon him.

he feels shamed by it

Shifts the focus to his feeling of being shamed rather than the act of shaming.

he is humiliated by it

Similar to "it humiliates him", but expressed in a passive voice.

FAQs

What does "it shames him" mean?

The phrase "it shames him" means that something causes him to feel a deep sense of embarrassment, humiliation, or dishonor. It implies a significant negative emotional impact.

What can I say instead of "it shames him"?

You can use alternatives like "it embarrasses him", "it humiliates him", or "it makes him feel ashamed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it shames him" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it shames him" is grammatically correct. "It" is the subject, "shames" is the verb, and "him" is the object. It follows standard English sentence structure.

How formal is the phrase "it shames him"?

The phrase "it shames him" is relatively neutral in formality. While not overly formal, it carries a weight that makes it unsuitable for extremely casual contexts. More casual alternatives may include, for example, "it embarrasses him".