as in uncomfortable
causing embarrassment
an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in confusing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
the modest young soldiers were embarrassed by the public praise for their heroism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embarrassing
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Jan. 2025
The setback dropped them to No. 6 before embarrassing (63-3) an undefeated, but depleted Florida State team in the Orange Bowl to finish No. 4.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Monday’s victory was only a month and a week removed from one of the more embarrassing losses of the Knicks season, an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss Young punctuated by rolling a set of imaginary die on The Garden’s center-court logo.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
There is nothing more embarrassing for the Giants than Saquon Barkley’s superstar explosion deep into his first NFL playoffs with the Philadelphia Eagles.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for embarrassing 
Adjective
An embarrassing finish last season, public calls for his firing, a tenuous relationship with the team’s star quarterback, arguing with fans — all true.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Jan. 2025
The setback dropped them to No. 6 before embarrassing (63-3) an undefeated, but depleted Florida State team in the Orange Bowl to finish No. 4.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Monday’s victory was only a month and a week removed from one of the more embarrassing losses of the Knicks season, an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss Young punctuated by rolling a set of imaginary die on The Garden’s center-court logo.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
There is nothing more embarrassing for the Giants than Saquon Barkley’s superstar explosion deep into his first NFL playoffs with the Philadelphia Eagles.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for embarrassing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassing
Adjective
-
The scene in the bedroom was way more uncomfortable.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Feb. 2025
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But a new exhibit lays out an uncomfortable truth for the storied museum: Some of its collection was looted and sold on the illicit antiquities market with the help of a Colorado art scholar.—
Sam Tabachnik,
The Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While inside, the affidavit said, Roe shoved an officer and wrapped his arm around the officer, impeding him from defending police from the rioters.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2025
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Of those, 608 have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But Denver would have been awkward for Fangio, returning only one year after getting fired.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2025
-
What started out as something Howie Mandel thought would be a funny bit for his Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast last month quickly devolved into a super-tense, awkward moment the America’s Got Talent host is now expressing regret for.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The standard screening test for colon cancer is through colonoscopy, but this can require patients to go through unpleasant bowel preparation and to then be anesthetized during the medical procedure.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The situation looked like a hoarder had lived there, very difficult to traverse through the residence, and the odor was extraordinarily unpleasant.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
This evidence has been difficult to obtain because the light emitted by these jets is mostly thermal.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Russia was becoming more closed, and this was disconcerting for a generation that had grown up in a modernized and relatively open society.—
Andrei Kolesnikov,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Oct. 2024
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Calculations on how many homeowners are at risk and how many are covered vary, but all are disconcerting.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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According to officers, Kerley was obstructing their investigation and was told to step away.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
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She was additionally charged with four counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer.—
Andrea May Sahouri,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But even for Ye, his abrupt public embrace of antisemitism and counterintuitive right-wing political rhetoric, resulting in his bringing avowed white nationalist Nick Fuentes to dine with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, has been disturbing.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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Even though Iris prefaced their weekend getaway with a disturbing intrusive thought about a previous boyfriend, her big unhinged moment is ultimately a passive decision to not untie her non-boyfriend.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near embarrassing
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassing. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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