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.
Their latest sham impeachment charade against President Trump is another embarrassing political stunt. Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025 Ventura spent more than 20 hours recounting to Southern District of New York prosecutors and Combs’ attorneys embarrassing and graphic details about freak-offs that allegedly began early on in the R&B singer’s romance with her older Bad Boy Records label boss. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025 Having been second for so long this season, dropping below that so late wouldn’t change much in the grand scheme of things, but would be embarrassing. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 16 May 2025 Not once in those 40 years was there an awkward conversation, an embarrassing revelation, a boundary crossing of any kind. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on embarrassing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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