sheepishness
Guilty, bashful feeling
Sheepishness is a feeling of mild embarrassment or self-consciousness, typically arising from having done something foolish, awkward, or slightly wrong.
Unlike deeper shame, sheepishness tends to be fleeting and often comes with a rueful smile or nervous laugh.
He scratched his head with obvious sheepishness after locking his keys in the car.
The word evokes the docile, easily cowed demeanor associated with sheep.
Facial reddening from embarrassment
- abashmentDiscomfiture from exposure
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
discomfiture · shamefaced · flustered · hangdog · crestfallen · apologetic · self-conscious · awkward smile
Timid self-consciousness
- shynessTendency toward social timidity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
hesitancy · self-effacement · demureness · reserve · mousiness · timorousness · humility · modesty
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
- regretSorrow over past actions
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
self-reproach · confession · apology · repentance · atonement · culpability · shame · wrongdoing
blushing
Facial reddening from embarrassment
- abashmentDiscomfiture from exposure
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
mortification · discomfiture · shamefaced · flustered · hangdog · crestfallen · apologetic · self-conscious · awkward smile · nervous laugh
bashfulness
Timid self-consciousness
- shynessTendency toward social timidity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
reticence · hesitancy · self-effacement · demureness · reserve · mousiness · timorousness · humility · modesty · quietness
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
- regretSorrow over past actions
penitence · self-reproach · confession · apology · repentance · atonement · culpability · shame · wrongdoing · admission
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- egoego, egoism, big ego, egotism, egocentrism
- passivitypassiveness, inaction, inactivity, submissiveness, acquiescence
sheepishnessboldness
Fearless readiness to act
self-confidence · confidence · brazenness · audacity · self-assurance
sheepishnessshamelessness
Absence of moral embarrassment
unabashedness · brazenness · audacity · brashness · impertinence
sheep, shepherd, sheepish, shepherds, sheepskin, sheepishly, shepherding, sheeplike, sheepshead