embarrassing
adjective
em·bar·rass·ing
im-ˈber-ə-siŋ 
-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
Mark TwainExamples of embarrassing in a Sentence
an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Recent Examples on the Web
The typical phone call between Breslow and Cora after Friday night’s embarrassing 10-3 loss also didn’t happen, team sources say.
—Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Photos of Mike Vrabel, the married Patriots coach taken with sports reporter Dianna Russini, followed by days of shifting messaging and the subsequent release of more photos, turned a private incident into a prolonged public and embarrassing scandal.
—Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
That means no handheld dishes, no messy dishes, nothing too experimental and nothing that risks embarrassing guests.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Across TikTok, Instagram and group chats, young people are constantly editing themselves, trimming anything that might come off as try-hard, awkward or embarrassing.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
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Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Photos of Mike Vrabel, the married Patriots coach taken with sports reporter Dianna Russini, followed by days of shifting messaging and the subsequent release of more photos, turned a private incident into a prolonged public and embarrassing scandal.
—Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
That means no handheld dishes, no messy dishes, nothing too experimental and nothing that risks embarrassing guests.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Across TikTok, Instagram and group chats, young people are constantly editing themselves, trimming anything that might come off as try-hard, awkward or embarrassing.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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