Abashless

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈbæʃ.lɪs/

Definitions

1. Not exhibiting shame, embarrassment, or self-consciousness regardless of circumstances or social judgment
2. Showing a complete absence of shame or embarrassment in various social situations
3. Displaying an unwavering confidence without any trace of shame or embarrassment in a variety of social contexts

Etymology: Abashless is a plain formation: the adjective "abash" with the suffix "-less" attached, meaning "not easily embarrassed" or incapable of being put to shame. The suffix is the more interesting half. It descends from an ancient root that also gave English "lose" and "loose," and it reached English as Old English "-lēas," meaning "free from" or "lacking." That same meaning survives in words like "fearless" and "careless," where the ending simply marks the absence of the quality named by the first part. The first part, "abash," came into English as a verb meaning to make someone feel ashamed or confused, typically by exposing them to unwelcome attention. Combining it with "-less" produces a word for someone who cannot be made to feel that way, a person who stays composed under scrutiny that would unsettle most others.

Synonyms: unashamed, unembarrassed, brazen, audacious, insolent

Antonyms: ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, abashed, self-conscious