Shameful vs Shameless

choose   Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:11 pm GMT
?
blanchine   Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:30 pm GMT
A shameless person makes no apologies for her shameful behavior.
Leasnam   Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:53 pm GMT
Huh. I never noticed this before but you're right--they should have opposite meanings but they don't!

'Shameless' (by analogy with 'shameful') should mean "without shame, undeserving of shame, respectable"

neat.
Robin Michael   Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:06 pm GMT
To add a lengthy explanation:


Shameless: means without shame

Shameful: means full of shame.


So, they do mean something slightly different.

A shameless person behaves without regard to other people's feelings.

A person who does something shameful, does something that they should feel ashamed of.
choose   Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:20 pm GMT
In a nutshell, I deduce, 'shameful' refers to behaviors, acts, practices, etc while 'shameless' describes persons.
Thanks
Robin Michael   Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:10 am GMT
Yes, I was thinking about this:

Whether 'shameful' could be described as an 'adjective', and 'shameless' described as an 'adverb'?

There is a popular TV series called 'Shameless' about life in Modern Britain.


I once read an article discussing the difference between 'shame' and 'guilt'.
Leasnam   Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:11 pm GMT
<,'Shameless' (by analogy with 'shameful') should mean "without shame, undeserving of shame, respectable"
>>

But today, 'shameless' wontedly means "without ashamed-ness", "remorseless"
aaaa   Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:41 pm GMT
shameless - someone who acts shamefully and yet doesn't feel ashamed.
Damian in Edinburgh   Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:42 pm GMT
***There is a popular TV series called 'Shameless' about life in Modern Britain***

I do hope Gordon Brown sees that statement sometime, I really do. fellow Scot or no fellow Scot, Great God Nemesis will soon be knocking on his door....