mortifying

adjective

mor·​ti·​fy·​ing ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī-iŋ 

: causing feelings of strong shame or embarrassment

a mortifying experience

They would tell each other secrets that no one else would hear, they would discuss sex in a way that would be mortifying in other company.

—Richard Flaste

mortifyingly adverb

The document deluge has offered plenty of mortifyingly frank appraisals of foreign leaders …

—Hendrik Hertzberg

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above