slightly abashed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly abashed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of mild embarrassment or self-consciousness in various contexts. Example: "She felt slightly abashed when she realized she had forgotten her friend's birthday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He looked slightly abashed.

The New Yorker

"Sarah," Mr. Small said, slightly abashed.

The New York Times - Books

Goldman, looking slightly abashed, began misting the man's head and then quickly injected his scalp.

The New York Times

Crockett is slightly abashed by having to coexist with his own myth -- but only slightly.

The New York Times

Peverelli seemed slightly abashed at the images' potential elevation from commerce to art.

The New Yorker

Gandolfini was slightly abashed by his performance, and admitted writing to Panetta to apologise.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

On the phone, though, the father was somewhat abashed.

The New York Times - Magazine

He looks abashed.

The Guardian

Me, I was abashed.

The New York Times

The interviewer is increasingly abashed.

The Economist

Meyers is not abashed about the similarities.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly abashed" to describe a character's reaction to a situation without overstating their embarrassment or shame. It conveys a nuanced emotional state.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly abashed" when a stronger emotion is more appropriate. Overusing "slightly" can dilute the impact of the description if the situation warrants a more intense reaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly abashed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a subject's emotional state. It indicates a mild degree of embarrassment or self-consciousness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly abashed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a mild sense of embarrassment or self-consciousness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various writing contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "a little embarrassed" or "somewhat ashamed" exist, "slightly abashed" offers a specific nuance. It's important to use the phrase judiciously, ensuring it accurately reflects the intended degree of emotion without overstatement. Remember to consider the context and register to choose the most appropriate phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly embarrassed

Direct synonym replacement, using "embarrassed" for "abashed", keeping "slightly" to maintain the level of intensity.

a little embarrassed

Changes the adjective to "embarrassed" and uses "a little" instead of "slightly" for a similar level of intensity.

somewhat ashamed

Replaces "abashed" with "ashamed" and "slightly" with "somewhat", suggesting a slightly stronger feeling of unease.

mildly self-conscious

Uses "self-conscious" instead of "abashed", focusing on awareness of oneself in a social situation; "mildly" replaces "slightly".

a bit sheepish

Replaces "slightly abashed" with the idiomatic expression "a bit sheepish", indicating mild embarrassment or guilt.

rather mortified

Substitutes "abashed" with "mortified" and "slightly" with "rather", conveying a stronger sense of shame or humiliation.

slightly discomfited

Replaces "abashed" with "discomfited", indicating a feeling of unease or discomfort, while retaining "slightly" for a mild intensity.

a little disconcerted

Uses "disconcerted" instead of "abashed", suggesting a feeling of confusion or unease; "a little" replaces "slightly".

somewhat humbled

Replaces "abashed" with "humbled", implying a lowering of pride or arrogance; "somewhat" replaces "slightly".

a touch humiliated

Substitutes "abashed" with "humiliated", indicating a feeling of shame or embarrassment; "a touch" replaces "slightly".

FAQs

How can I use "slightly abashed" in a sentence?

The phrase "slightly abashed" is used to describe a mild feeling of embarrassment or shame. For example: "He looked "slightly abashed" after realizing his mistake."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly abashed"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a little embarrassed", "somewhat ashamed", or "mildly self-conscious" instead of "slightly abashed".

Is it correct to say "a bit abashed" instead of "slightly abashed"?

Yes, "a bit abashed" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative to "slightly abashed". Both phrases indicate a mild degree of embarrassment or sheepishness.

What's the difference between "slightly abashed" and "very embarrassed"?

"Slightly abashed" suggests a mild feeling of self-consciousness or embarrassment, while "very embarrassed" indicates a much stronger and more intense feeling of shame or discomfort. The choice depends on the context and the degree of emotion you want to convey.