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.
In Tagovailoa’s absence, the Dolphins looked terrible, dropping three of four games, including an embarrassing 31-12 thumping courtesy of the lowly Tennessee Titans. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025 What To Know The latest advances in Kursk come nearly six months after Kyiv first sent troops into the region, seizing a swath of territory in an embarrassing reverse for Putin. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025 Mayo tossed his offensive coordinator under all four tires with five words after the Patriots' embarrassing 30-17 loss at Arizona that followed their bye week. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025 Indeed, embarrassment — or rather, lack of embarrassment over things that might be seen as embarrassing — is practically the theme of the Globes, which still sells themselves as a party — though, like anything else that is supposed to be fun, that may be more in theory than practice. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near embarrassing

Cite this Entry

“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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