mortified
Wishing to disappear
Mortified describes intense embarrassment or shame—the feeling of wanting to disappear after a social blunder or humiliating moment: I was mortified when I called my teacher "mom" in front of the whole class.
The word suggests embarrassment so acute it feels almost physical.
The older sense of mortifying the flesh—subduing bodily desires through discipline—survives mainly in religious contexts.
Made to feel worthless
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- blushingFacial reddening from embarrassment
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
sheepish · abashed · chagrined · flustered · discomfited · awkward · cringing · uncomfortable
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- penitentOne showing remorse
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
rueful · apologetic · guilt-ridden · conscience-stricken · compunctious · chastened · sorrowful · anguished
Made to feel disgrace
- disgracedBrought into shame
- dishonoredBrought shame upon
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- humbledReduced in status
debased · demeaned · belittled · diminished · deflated · crushed · brought low · put in one's place
Intensely shocked, disgusted
- appalledShocked by wrongness
- aghastStruck with horror
- scandalizedDeeply offended morally
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
dismayed · taken aback · gobsmacked · flabbergasted · incredulous · astonished · thunderstruck · shaken
humiliated
Made to feel worthless
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- blushingFacial reddening from embarrassment
self-conscious · sheepish · abashed · chagrined · flustered · discomfited · awkward · cringing · uncomfortable · disconcerted
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
regretful · rueful · apologetic · guilt-ridden · conscience-stricken · compunctious · chastened · sorrowful · anguished · tortured
shamed
Made to feel disgrace
- disgracedBrought into shame
- dishonoredBrought shame upon
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
humbled · debased · demeaned · belittled · diminished · deflated · crushed · brought low · put in one's place · cut down to size
horrified
Intensely shocked, disgusted
- appalledShocked by wrongness
- aghastStruck with horror
- scandalizedDeeply offended morally
stunned · dismayed · taken aback · gobsmacked · flabbergasted · incredulous · astonished · thunderstruck · shaken · staggered
- embarrassmentembarrassed, blush, humiliated, ashamed, humiliate
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, degradation
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- offendedoffended, insulted, slighted, affronted, indignant