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
As the 1930s progressed, Fetchit’s appearances in films like 1934’s Stand Up and Cheer, with Shirley Temple, became predictable and embarrassing for all who watched.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Yet their embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield, from the sixth tier of football in England, as holders in the FA Cup’s third round in January was not against a team who massed resolutely in their own territory.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The clash over how many candidates to include underscored the dilemma facing Democrats, who are anxious to avoid a potentially embarrassing outcome in a state that hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
—Joseph Ax, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
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Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Yet their embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield, from the sixth tier of football in England, as holders in the FA Cup’s third round in January was not against a team who massed resolutely in their own territory.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The clash over how many candidates to include underscored the dilemma facing Democrats, who are anxious to avoid a potentially embarrassing outcome in a state that hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
—Joseph Ax, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 2026.
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