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 Tar Heels fell to 2-3 on the season Saturday after an embarrassing 38-10 loss to Clemson, which entered the day winning just one of its first four games.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The 3-1 Crimson Tide are looking for revenge after the embarrassing upset in 2024, and a second straight loss to the Commodores could spell doom for the program that head coach Kalen DeBoer is trying to build in his second season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The continual delays have led to many embarrassing moments, the most recent coming last Tuesday, when, after Barca officials told the media the Camp Nou was ready, the Barcelona city council arranged a press conference of their own in reply.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
That student asked other students to record embarrassing photos of students both in and out of class.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
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Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The 3-1 Crimson Tide are looking for revenge after the embarrassing upset in 2024, and a second straight loss to the Commodores could spell doom for the program that head coach Kalen DeBoer is trying to build in his second season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The continual delays have led to many embarrassing moments, the most recent coming last Tuesday, when, after Barca officials told the media the Camp Nou was ready, the Barcelona city council arranged a press conference of their own in reply.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
That student asked other students to record embarrassing photos of students both in and out of class.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 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 Oct. 2025.
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