embarrassment

noun

em·bar·rass·ment | \ im-ˈber-ə-smənt

, -ˈba-rəs-\

Definition of embarrassment

1a : something that embarrasses the scandal was a major embarrassment

b : an excessive quantity from which to select —used especially in the phrase embarrassment of riches

2 : the state of being embarrassed: such as

a : confusion or disturbance of mind couldn't hide her embarrassment

b : difficulty arising from the want of money to pay debts

c : difficulty in functioning as a result of disease cardiac embarrassment

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about embarrassment

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Examples of embarrassment in a Sentence

She couldn't hide her embarrassment. The scandal was a major embarrassment for the government. He's an embarrassment to his family.

Recent Examples on the Web

In place of the good versus evil push and pull that propelled the The Witches of Eastwick’s plot, the pair offered a dazzling array of choices for their high-living customer. Call it an embarrassment of riches or, simply, a win-win situation. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "Baby, It’s Cold Outside—Here Are 19 Designer-Approved Movies to Watch Cuddled Up at Home," 11 Dec. 2018 Any cash shortfall can cause embarrassment, with power supply to the brand-new Samara Arena briefly turned off last month when electricity bills had reportedly gone unpaid for several months. — James Ellingworth, Fox News, "Two months after WCup final, Russia police no longer relaxed," 15 Sep. 2018 So often the source of letdowns and embarrassments, England's soccer team is a unifying force among players and the nation. — Rob Harris, chicagotribune.com, "After so much humiliation, England's World Cup team a source of national pride," 7 July 2018 No one should have to live with this pain, nor the embarrassment, loneliness, and shame that often accompanies it. — Angela Garbes, The Cut, "What If We Told Women the Truth About What Birth Can Do to Their Bodies?," 15 May 2018 The real answer is Busch should never have been hired, and his behavior in his one season was a source of constant embarrassment and irritation to the athletic department. — Mac Engel, star-telegram, "TCU swimming and diving situation was a fiasco from Day 1 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 7 Apr. 2018 So grab the father figure in your life and get ready to either laugh or suffer from second hand embarrassment with some of these jokes. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "25 Hilarious Dad Jokes That’ll Make You Die Laughing," 9 May 2019 With time, Steel has been able to overcome the embarrassment. — Samantha Leach, Glamour, "How The Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?," 9 May 2019 The embarrassment for Berlin and NATO is that Germany is happy to help Vladimir Putin execute this plan. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Trump and the Russia Pipeline," 11 July 2018

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