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 Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was destroyed by Ukraine in the early days of the war, dealing an embarrassing blow to Putin.
—Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
In an interview Wednesday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Idris — who plays a rookie Formula One driver named Joshua Pearce — recalled an embarrassing moment while shooting opposite his F1 costar Brad Pitt, who plays Pearce's mentor, Sonny Hayes.
—EW.com, 19 June 2025
Last year's embarrassing group stage elimination in the Copa America tournament led to the firing of then-coach Gregg Berhalter.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 17 June 2025
The closing arguments of the sensational retrial were one of the most embarrassing moments for the MSP in its history.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025
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Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
In an interview Wednesday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Idris — who plays a rookie Formula One driver named Joshua Pearce — recalled an embarrassing moment while shooting opposite his F1 costar Brad Pitt, who plays Pearce's mentor, Sonny Hayes.
—EW.com, 19 June 2025
Last year's embarrassing group stage elimination in the Copa America tournament led to the firing of then-coach Gregg Berhalter.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 17 June 2025
The closing arguments of the sensational retrial were one of the most embarrassing moments for the MSP in its history.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 17 June 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 9 Jul. 2025.
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