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.
Then came a five-game losing streak to close the season that included competitive defeats to Playoff teams Penn State and Oregon along with three embarrassing losses to former West foes. Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 Interim Kings coach Doug Christie took more than an hour to come out for his postgame news conference Friday night following an embarrassing home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2025 With little power in the minority to stop the onslaught, Democrats instead used the all-night debate to force GOP senators into potentially embarrassing votes -- including the first one, on blocking tax breaks to billionaires. Lisa Mascaro, arkansasonline.com, 22 Feb. 2025 With little power in the minority to stop the onslaught, Democrats instead used the all-night debate to force GOP senators into potentially embarrassing votes — including the first one, on blocking tax breaks to billionaires. Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 2025.

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