SHEEPISH

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sheepish mean? 

• SHEEPISH (adjective)
  The adjective SHEEPISH has 2 senses:

1. like or suggestive of a sheep in docility or stupidity or meekness or timidity

2. showing a sense of shame

  Familiarity information: SHEEPISH used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHEEPISH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Like or suggestive of a sheep in docility or stupidity or meekness or timidity

Synonyms:

sheepish; sheeplike

Similar:

docile (willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing a sense of shame

Synonyms:

shamefaced; sheepish

Similar:

ashamed (feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse)

Derivation:

sheepishness (feeling embarrassed about yourself)

 Context examples 

Thirteen bowmen, with hung heads and sheepish faces, stepped forward with Mark Shaw and ranged themselves behind Sir Claude.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was, now, a huge, strong fellow of six feet high, broad in proportion, and round-shouldered; but with a simpering boy's face and curly light hair that gave him quite a sheepish look.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Their cravats were in general stiff, I thought, and their looks haughty; but in this last respect I presently conceived I had done them an injustice, for when two or three of them had to rise and answer a question of the presiding dignitary, I never saw anything more sheepish.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)