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.
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 Grace Raynor: The Buckeyes have too much talent on offense and defense and have found a way to play angrily after the embarrassing Michigan debacle. The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025 The quirky movie, in which a CGI monkey portrays the British singer Robbie Williams, scraped together $255,000 from 1,290 theaters over the weekend and $310,000 through Monday, bringing its domestic tally to an embarrassing $1.8 million. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 19 Jan. 2025 These incidents are understandably frustrating and embarrassing for an institution already deeply unpopular with the public. Casey Burgat, Twin Cities, 16 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 26 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on embarrassing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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