“Abash” means to make someone feel embarrassed, ashamed, or self - conscious. Here are some synonyms and their characteristics:
1. Embarrass
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel self - conscious, awkward, or ashamed. For example, “His clumsy remarks embarrassed her in front of the whole class.” The main difference between “embarrass” and “abash” is that “embarrass” is a more commonly used word and can refer to a wide range of situations that make a person feel uncomfortable due to social faux - pas, mistakes, or being the center of unwanted attention.
2. Humiliate
- Meaning: To make someone feel ashamed or lose their dignity. For example, “The public criticism humiliated him.” “Humiliate” is a stronger word than “abash.” It implies a more severe and often intentional act of causing someone to feel degraded, while “abash” can sometimes be a result of a less malicious situation or one's own actions.
3. Shame
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel a painful emotion due to a sense of guilt, inadequacy, or disgrace. For example, “His actions shamed his family.” “Shame” and “abash” are quite similar, but “shame” can have a more moral or ethical connotation, often related to a violation of values or standards, whereas “abash” can be more about a momentary feeling of self - consciousness.
4. Mortify
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed. For example, “She was mortified when she realized her zipper was down.” “Mortify” is a very strong synonym for “abash.” It emphasizes a deep - seated and often very distressing feeling of embarrassment.
5. Discomfit
- Meaning: To make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused. For example, “The unexpected question discomfited the speaker.” “Discomfit” is a less common word than “embarrass” but is similar to “abash” in that it can imply a sudden feeling of discomfort or self - consciousness caused by an external factor.