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
Boise’s rough end to May stretched into June, and the first-year club left Madison, Wisconsin, last week surrendering four unanswered goals in the second half for an embarrassing loss.
—Idaho Statesman, 21 June 2026
Famous footballer recounts embarrassing conversation with 'Buffett' Jimmy Buffett with Warren Buffett at the 2016 Berkshire meeting.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 19 June 2026
That England avoided what would have been an embarrassing last-sixteen exit to Slovakia was thanks mostly to the individual brilliance of Jude Bellingham, its attacking prodigy, who scissored in an acrobatic finish at the death.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Crucially, double-check all automatic placeholders to avoid embarrassing errors that betray the human touch.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
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Idaho Statesman, 21 June 2026
Famous footballer recounts embarrassing conversation with 'Buffett' Jimmy Buffett with Warren Buffett at the 2016 Berkshire meeting.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 19 June 2026
That England avoided what would have been an embarrassing last-sixteen exit to Slovakia was thanks mostly to the individual brilliance of Jude Bellingham, its attacking prodigy, who scissored in an acrobatic finish at the death.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Crucially, double-check all automatic placeholders to avoid embarrassing errors that betray the human touch.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 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 23 Jun. 2026.
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