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
Olympic Fail There was also an embarrassing mix-up at the 2012 Olympics when London organizers mistakenly featured the South Korea flag instead of North Korea when players were about to begin their game against Colombia.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Not returning to Camp Nou in August will be very embarrassing for FC Barcelona
Not returning to Camp Nou in August will be very embarrassing for FC Barcelona on August 10, especially after making a grand announcement that this would be the case.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Not when Inter Miami has the best regular season record in MLS and sees championship hopes fizzle with an embarrassing quick playoff exit.
—Greg Cote
july 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025
The Montreal split-city plan was an embarrassing Hail Mary.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
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Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Not returning to Camp Nou in August will be very embarrassing for FC Barcelona
Not returning to Camp Nou in August will be very embarrassing for FC Barcelona on August 10, especially after making a grand announcement that this would be the case.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Not when Inter Miami has the best regular season record in MLS and sees championship hopes fizzle with an embarrassing quick playoff exit.
—Greg Cote
july 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025
The Montreal split-city plan was an embarrassing Hail Mary.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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