embarrassing

adjective

em·​bar·​rass·​ing im-ˈber-ə-siŋ How to pronounce embarrassing (audio)
-ˈba-rə-
: causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress : causing embarrassment
an embarrassing error
The official was ever so polite, and ever so sorry, but the rule was strict, and he could not let us in. It was very embarrassing, for many eyes were on us.Mark Twain
embarrassingly adverb
an embarrassingly messy house

Examples of embarrassing in a Sentence

an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the marketing meeting for Howard's film finally begins, Maya put Matt on the spot to deliver the note, only for Howard to recall, in detail, Matt's embarrassing suggestion from the screening of A Beautiful Mind in front of everyone. Julia Moore, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Nine Republicans, including Luna, dealt Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) an embarrassing blow on Tuesday afternoon by voting against a rule vote to advance several pieces of legislation. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025 Make buying nicotine, generic Viagra and glasses cool, easy and not embarrassing. Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 There are numerous glaring questions that must be asked from this most embarrassing error, perhaps chief among them: How in the world did Goldberg, who did more than any other journalist in America to sell former President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal one decade ago, get added to this chat? Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for embarrassing

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of embarrassing was in 1778

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Cite this Entry

“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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