Standard Lemma guide

sheepishness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality or property of being sheepish; shyness; bashfulness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

feeling embarrassed about yourself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shamefacedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: embarrassment

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English sheepish Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English sheepishness From sheepish + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lammasmaisuus — the quality or property of being sheepish
  • Polish: zawstydzenie — the quality or property of being sheepish
  • Polish: zakłopotanie — the quality or property of being sheepish
  • Polish: zmieszanie — the quality or property of being sheepish