shamelessly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "shamelessly" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to behave or act without any sense of shame or ethical concern. You can use it in situations where someone is behaving in a way that is considered inappropriate or morally wrong without any sense of remorse or guilt. Example: "The politician shamelessly lied to the public about his actions, despite the overwhelming evidence against him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Unite spokesman said: "The Tories are taking Britain back to the 1920s with this shamelessly partisan attack on the funding of the opposition party.

The Guardian

But self care, or actively looking after yourself in a healthy way, is something many young people practice shamelessly; it is not only empowering, but necessary.

The Guardian

The Tories enjoyed a 5.5% swing among over-65s, whom they have shamelessly cultivated with promises to slash inheritance tax and shield pensioners from austerity.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was strangely exhilarating to see Ed Miliband with at least three parties politically to his left, the Scottish and Welsh Nationalists and the Greens, with even Nick Clegg somewhat shamelessly rediscovering the leftish Lib Dem principles he largely betrayed for his five years in office with the Tories.

The Guardian

And, incidentally, since it has so shamelessly copied 300's visual style over the years, look out for lots of close-ups of crying girls' faces surrounded by fire on the next series of Top Gear.

The Guardian - Film

In a desperate, scorched-earth attempt to remain in power, the unionist Tories are willing to ensure the break-up of the UK, shamelessly fanning anti-Scottish resentment in England while fuelling the SNP juggernaut.

The Guardian - Opinion

To win she shamelessly borrowed policies such as the minimum wage from her Social Democrat (SPD) opponents.

The Guardian - Opinion

I conclude that this is its primary purpose and that your government has shamelessly used the fear of terrorism and the loathing of scroungers and illegal immigrants to attain this goal of total supervision.

The Guardian - Opinion

Entitled New York Fantasy, this was a shamelessly sentimental, sepia-hued vision of New York style, referencing the kind of clothes one would expect in a 1970s Woody Allen film: chunky tweed jackets over pretty diaphanous dresses, mannish trousers paired with nippy leather jackets, delicate pleated dresses over thick wool tights.

The Guardian

The most popular suggestion was to rename Mumsnet's most famed board "Am I Being Treasonable?" And then they were off, taking MI5's online "investigative challenge" and shamelessly posting their scores on the thread.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is possible, after a shamelessly political budget this week, that the campaign will now focus on the parties' genuinely competing economic visions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shamelessly" to emphasize the lack of shame or ethical consideration in someone's actions. It adds a critical or judgmental tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "shamelessly" when a more neutral adverb would suffice. Its strong negative connotation can make your writing sound biased or overly critical if used inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "shamelessly" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying verbs and adjectives to emphasize the blatant and unashamed nature of an action or quality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it adds a layer of moral judgment, indicating disapproval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shamelessly" is a grammatically correct adverb used to express disapproval of actions performed without shame. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used in various contexts, especially in news and media, to add a critical edge. While synonyms like "unabashedly" or "brazenly" exist, "shamelessly" carries a stronger negative connotation. When using "shamelessly", be mindful of its judgmental tone and avoid overuse in neutral situations to prevent sounding biased. While the word is correct and very usable in written English, according to Ludwig AI, remember to use "shamelessly" to describe behaviour where people act "shamelessly".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unabashedly

Emphasizes a lack of embarrassment, often implying boldness.

brazenly

Highlights audacity and a defiance of social norms.

impudently

Focuses on disrespectful behavior.

flagrantly

Stresses the open and obvious nature of the behavior.

unscrupulously

Indicates a lack of moral principles.

barefacedly

Highlights the boldness and lack of disguise in the action.

audaciously

Emphasizes the boldness and daring of the action.

without remorse

Directly states the absence of regret.

without compunction

Implies a lack of hesitation or guilt.

indecently

Suggests behavior that violates standards of modesty or propriety.

FAQs

How can I use "shamelessly" in a sentence?

You can use "shamelessly" to describe someone acting without shame or guilt. For example, "He "shamelessly promoted" his own interests at the expense of others."

What's the difference between "shamelessly" and "unashamedly"?

"Shamelessly" implies a stronger negative judgment, suggesting the action is morally wrong. "Unashamedly" simply means without shame, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

What are some synonyms for "shamelessly"?

Alternatives include "brazenly", "unabashedly", or "impudently". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever appropriate to use "shamelessly" in a positive context?

While rare, "shamelessly" can be used ironically or humorously to describe someone embracing something without reservation. However, this is uncommon and should be used with caution.