abash

abash

verb \ə-ˈbash\

Definition of ABASH

transitive verb

: to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of : disconcert

— abash·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of ABASH

1. <felt terribly abashed when she walked into the wrong hotel room>

Origin of ABASH

Middle English abaishen, from Anglo-French abaiss-, abair to astonish, alteration of esbair, from ex- + baer to open wide, gape — more at abeyance

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ABASH

Synonyms: embarrass, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle

Related Words: agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, put off, put out, unhinge, unsettle, upset; debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, queer, shame

Near Antonyms: calm, comfort, console, relieve, soothe; buoy, cheer, embolden, encourage, hearten; assure, reassure

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See Synonym Discussion at embarrass

Rhymes with ABASH

backlash, backslash, backsplash, bone ash, calash, Chumash, cold cash, czardas, encash, eyelash, fly ash, gate-crash, goulash, green flash, heat rash, hot flash, Lagash, mishmash, mustache, panache, potash, rehash, slapdash, soutache, stramash, tongue-lash, unlash, Wabash, whiplash, white ash