thoroughly ashamed

USAGE SUMMARY

"thoroughly ashamed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate extreme guilt, humiliation, or regret. Example: After I lied to my teacher, I was thoroughly ashamed of myself.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The man should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

The Guardian

A compound of middle-class virtues, she was thoroughly ashamed of this thought.

The New Yorker

They phone it in every time and sbould be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a parlous state of affairs of which the city should be thoroughly ashamed.

The New Yorker

Your average village keeper would've been thoroughly ashamed of himself for dropping that.

The Guardian - Sport

Likewise, Americans should be thoroughly ashamed that Bud Light is the national tipple, when its reputation for appalling beer is now wholly outdated.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

I hope the authors will feel thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed at what they wrote back then".

Independent

Un-sweetened further, they won Games 6 and 7 - but by now they were thoroughly confused, angry, ashamed and divided.

Huffington Post

Beach Thomas himself later regretted his wartime reports of the Somme, saying, "I was thoroughly and deeply ashamed of what I had written for the good reason that it was untrue ... the vulgarity of enormous headlines and the enormity of one's own name did not lessen the shame".

Wikipedia

The American people should be deeply ashamed that we were stupid enough and taken-in so thoroughly to elect and re-elect as chief executive this kind of a person.

HuffPost

This article originally appeared on VICE US.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thoroughly ashamed" to express a strong sense of guilt or regret, particularly when someone's actions have violated their own moral code or social expectations. It conveys a deeper level of remorse than simply saying "ashamed".

Common error

While "thoroughly ashamed" is acceptable, be mindful of its intensity in formal writing. In professional or academic contexts, consider using more nuanced or less emotionally charged alternatives like "regretful" or "disappointed" to maintain a measured tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thoroughly ashamed" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of feeling intense shame or regret. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatical and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

28%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thoroughly ashamed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase to express a strong sense of guilt, regret, or embarrassment. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English. While versatile, it is important to consider the context and adjust the tone accordingly, especially in formal writing where less intense alternatives may be more appropriate. The phrase appears frequently in news and media sources, with a significant presence in academic contexts as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply remorseful

Indicates a profound sense of regret and sorrow for one's actions, emphasizing the emotional depth of the feeling.

completely regretful

Highlights the feeling of wishing one had not done something, emphasizing the longing to undo the past action.

intensely regretful

Similar to "completely regretful", but intensifies the degree of regret felt.

utterly mortified

Focuses on the intense feeling of humiliation and embarrassment, suggesting a complete loss of pride.

bitterly ashamed

Adds a layer of resentment or anger towards oneself to the feeling of shame, suggesting a more complex emotion.

incredibly contrite

Suggests a sincere and profound feeling of guilt and repentance, often accompanied by a desire to make amends.

profoundly humiliated

Focuses on the deep sense of being degraded and lowered in dignity, highlighting the impact on one's self-esteem.

devastated with shame

Expresses the overwhelming and destructive impact of shame, suggesting a significant emotional toll.

extremely penitent

Emphasizes the act of expressing remorse and seeking forgiveness, often with a religious connotation.

filled with self-reproach

Indicates a strong feeling of blaming oneself and criticizing one's own actions or character.

FAQs

How can I use "thoroughly ashamed" in a sentence?

You can use "thoroughly ashamed" to describe someone feeling intense regret or guilt, for example, "He was "thoroughly ashamed" of his behavior at the party".

What are some alternatives to saying "thoroughly ashamed"?

Alternatives include "deeply remorseful", "utterly mortified", or "completely regretful", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "thoroughly ashamed of myself"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and a common way to express that you are feeling intense shame or regret for something you have done. For example: "I am "thoroughly ashamed of myself" for losing my temper."

What's the difference between "ashamed" and "thoroughly ashamed"?

"Thoroughly ashamed" expresses a stronger degree of shame than simply "ashamed". "Thoroughly" intensifies the feeling, indicating a more profound sense of guilt or regret.