as in uncomfortable
causing embarrassment
an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in confusing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
the modest young soldiers were embarrassed by the public praise for their heroism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of embarrassing
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
But this can be pretty embarrassing.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
And then Thaddeus’s arm falls off, embarrassing his companions.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Adjective
The quest to unmask Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, has been going on for more than a decade now, and resulted in some embarrassing misfires.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
But this can be pretty embarrassing.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
One day, Will goes viral after embarrassing ROAR league MVP, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), during a streetball challenge, prompting his favorite team, the Vineland Thorns, to sign him to a season-ending contract in a desperate attempt to juice ticket sales.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
And then Thaddeus’s arm falls off, embarrassing his companions.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassing
Adjective
-
Colbert said, as images of the president sitting and looking uncomfortable appeared onscreen.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The legal grey area has apparently even made Frontex, the EU border control agency, uncomfortable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In January, Geren notified more than 50 of the 62 Democrats that each owes $9,200 in fines and other charges for impeding the progress of the House by not showing up in the Capitol last August as lawmakers deliberated a plan to overhaul the state's congressional map.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Miller's family members openly accused then-sheriff Marion Joe Russell of impeding the investigation, as Nipp was Russell's nephew.—
Jessie Christopher Smith,
Oklahoman,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The amount also varies over time, further complicating the estimates.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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But that also added another, complicating layer to the pseudo-friendship the two had off screen.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The few who described speaking with her told me that their interactions had been very brief—just a short, awkward hello.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Communication can be blunt and awkward.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The graduation ceremony and the reception afterward are cute and heartwarming for the grown-ups, bittersweet and mortifying for the kids, who skive off to smoke some of Ed’s high-test weed and have a little Texas Forever moment, toasting their enduring friendships.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
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Classmates saw the sign while riding by Goepper’s home on the school bus, mortifying the teenage Goepper.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Brian Hooker reported his wife missing on Sunday, April 5, saying she had been swept away from a dingy which lost power the night before, hampering his ability to seek help.—
Cristian Benavides,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That none of this has ever been clear to Gisèle is perplexing even to her.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
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While initially perplexing to the Messers and other anglers, some now believe this was part of Phillips’ long con.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassing. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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