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

The inevitable publication of the unredacted document is not the only potentially embarrassment looming in the President’s future. — Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, "The Week In Washington: “The Democrats Will Never Be Satisfied!”," 7 Apr. 2019 Lachlan is politically conservative and defends Fox News even as his left-leaning brother James privately professes embarrassment about the channel. — Sarah Ellison, The Seattle Times, "Younger Murdoch take the reins. How will he deal with Trump?," 25 Mar. 2019 America during the holidays is an embarrassment of riches, from sugar cookies to gingerbread to candy canes and every delicious morsel in between. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "I Started Snacking Differently at Work and Got WAY More Productive," 20 Mar. 2019 Raymarine has a solution in the works: DockSense, an automated system that uses stereoscopic cameras to help bring your boat to the dock without embarrassment or massive property damage. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "Self-Docking Boats Are Coming Soon," 15 Mar. 2019 With Raheem Sterling scoring twice and Ilkay Gundogan also netting, Chelsea had nothing to enjoy in this latest embarrassment on the road. — Rob Harris, The Seattle Times, "Aguero, City humiliate Chelsea — and referee joins in japes," 10 Feb. 2019 Check out these stars' jaw-dropping comments and get ready to cringe from secondhand embarrassment. 1. — Stacey Grant, Seventeen, "18 Celebs Who Threw Massive Amounts of Shade at Their Exes," 17 Oct. 2018 To compound the embarrassment further here's a helpful list of teams that have reached a semi-final since England last did. — SI.com, "Panic Stations: We Need to Talk About England's Knockout Record Before It Comes Home on July 15," 2 July 2018 Instead of wallowing in the embarrassment and brokenness associated with these taboo topics, this family turns the situations into not just teaching, but healing moments. — Elizabeth Wellington, Philly.com, "Come sit at Jada Pinkett-Smith's red table for some testifying, transparency and healing | Elizabeth Wellington," 19 June 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.