embarrassing

adjective em·bar·rass·ing \ im-ˈber-ə-siŋ , -ˈba-rə- \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of embarrassing

: 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

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embarrassingly

play \im-ˈber-ə-siŋ-lē, -ˈba-rə-\ adverb

- an embarrassingly messy house

Recent Examples of embarrassing from the Web

That is a deeply unfortunate and frankly dangerously embarrassing prospect, because Iran is one of the most nefarious actors on the world stage, playing a destabilizing role across the Middle East.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "“We’re Paying a Heavy Price”: Senator Ben Cardin Takes on Trump’s “Sledgehammer” Foreign Policy," 14 May 2018
USA TODAY Powerball officials suffered an embarrassing but short-lived glitch when the regularly scheduled, live drawing had to be shelved due to unexplained technical difficulties.

— john bacon, USA TODAY, "Glitch delays live Powerball drawing, and nobody wins," 6 May 2018
That's heartbreaking, disappointing and embarrassing.

— author: wayne and wanda, Anchorage Daily News, "After 6 months of dating, shouldn’t he have told me he was still sleeping with his ex?," 5 May 2018
Trump appointees may not want to stick their necks out because of an embarrassing episode last summer.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "China Trade Showdown," 2 May 2018
Rokita has picked up the endorsement of two leaders of Trump's 2016 campaign in the state, but, in an embarrassing episode, Trump's re-election campaign pressured him to take down signs for implying that Trump was backing him.

— NBC News, "GOP candidates' circular firing squad ahead of Indiana Senate primary," 30 Apr. 2018
Chief Judge Timothy Evans, whose office had hired Crawford as a law clerk/staff attorney, responded to the embarrassing episode by firing her from her $57,000-a-year job.

— todd lighty, chicagotribune.com, "Lawyer charged with impersonating judge found dead days from trial," 27 Apr. 2018
Bulger’s decades-long relationship with the FBI is controversial and embarrassing for the bureau.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "What Happened to Alan Dershowitz?," 23 Apr. 2018
And while young prom-goers can buy the prettiest dresses or the most dapper of tuxedos, this pivotal event in one's high school career can often get a bit awkward, and slightly embarrassing.

— taylor jade powell, Cincinnati.com, "Send the Enquirer your awkward, embarrassing prom photos," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'embarrassing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.