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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embarrassing
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
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Adjective
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
Verb
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.
—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.
—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassing
Adjective
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The conclusions from these findings are both uncomfortable and freeing.
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Francisco Lindor is injured, and other guys just look uncomfortable.
Verb
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The most common mistake is confusing more communication with a better signal.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s investigation of the alternative medicine industry uncovered a pattern of practitioners across Georgia pushing legal limits on what they’re allowed to do and presenting confusing information about their credentials.
Verb
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Smoke could also make for dangerous driving conditions by impeding visibility.
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Wednesday's arrests were part of the 15 charged Tuesday with impeding the work of immigration agents during and after Operation Metro Surge.
Verb
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But the extreme conditions are undoubtedly a complicating factor.
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But the relentless focus on development — and data centers and artificial intelligence in particular — are complicating things for Shapiro, who is seeking a second term as governor in 2026 and is frequently mentioned as a presidential candidate in 2028.
Adjective
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Your 2nd House of Finances hits an awkward angle as the nurturing Moon quincunxes ambitious Mars in your 9th House of Travel and Learning.
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But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some awkward moments.
Verb
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Just last year, the Trust for Public Land scored the city way down at 90th out of 100 cities, the kind of mortifying ranking usually occupied in other categories by Mississippi (sorry, Mississippi).
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Baby Reindeer was hardly a laugh riot, but mortifying humor is still humor and, with episodic running times in the 30-minute range, the show had a charging, unpredictable momentum.
Verb
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The sanctions are hampering work on a broad array of investigations at the court.
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Winds of up to 50 mph stoked the flames and severely limited the fire response by hampering boat and aircraft access to the remote island.
Verb
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But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).
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That none of this has ever been clear to Gisèle is perplexing even to her.
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassing. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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