1
as in confusion
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable
experienced the great embarrassment of tripping while on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
a big suitcase filled with clothes proved to be more an embarrassment than a convenience on my trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of embarrassment
Players had begun getting legal money, alleviating a moral embarrassment from the previous century-plus, but transfers hadn’t yet started flipping half of every roster every season.
—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Instead too many accept as a given of public discourse that our elections are suspect and an embarrassment to the world.
—
Jackie Calmes,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Democrats aren't buying it, saying the White House is simply trying to avoid an embarrassment for the president.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
The result of all this was that Nanjiani, through a mixture of discomfort at being physically objectified and embarrassment at his gameplay performance, spent a fair amount of the in-studio recordings with his head buried in his hands.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassment
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Instead too many accept as a given of public discourse that our elections are suspect and an embarrassment to the world.
—
Jackie Calmes,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Democrats aren't buying it, saying the White House is simply trying to avoid an embarrassment for the president.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
The result of all this was that Nanjiani, through a mixture of discomfort at being physically objectified and embarrassment at his gameplay performance, spent a fair amount of the in-studio recordings with his head buried in his hands.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrassment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassment
Noun
-
Washington Examiner columnist Guy Benson said former President Joe Biden’s moment of confusion at the Obama Presidential Center’s dedication ceremony doesn’t paint a good image for Democrats.
-
Some confusion remained Saturday as to the terms of the settlement with the state, how close the parties are to that settlement and how much of the city’s street art would be removed under that agreement.
Noun
-
Despite these obstacles, the Cuban government faces a short window for obtaining results, said Paolo Spadoni, associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Georgia.
-
Rather than simply advocating for preservation, the organization is working directly with property owners to better understand what obstacles stand in the way of restoring some of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks.
Noun
-
In 1933, the year Hitler consolidated power, Schmeling suffered public humiliation at the hands of Max Baer, a boxer from the American heartland whose father was Jewish.
-
The complaint states that Lowe has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, lost income and medical expenses.
Noun
-
But the technology still faces hurdles, experts said, and labor groups including the Teamsters are raising alarms over safety and availability of jobs.
-
Cuban leaders like former President Raúl Castro – who still wields significant power on the island – have sought to push forward more limited reforms of Cuba’s economy in the past, but efforts have run into bureaucratic hurdles.
Noun
-
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz left the game with left hamstring discomfort in the fourth inning.
-
From sky-high heels and stiff business attire to bulky belts and even barefoot passengers (yes, that happens), these in-flight missteps can lead to unnecessary discomfort—or worse, a hygiene horror story.
Noun
-
He was charged with stalking, disturbing the peace and obstruction for failure to identify himself to law enforcement.
-
Latino drivers made up 38% of stops for window obstruction.
Noun
-
The remarks reflected growing unease across Latin America over Washington’s increasingly expansive definition of cartel warfare.
-
As geopolitical unease intensified last year, central banks and retail investors worldwide piled into gold.
Noun
-
In the months since, the strait has seen intense GPS spoofing — a form of navigation systems interference that causes vessels’ broadcast positions to appear in the wrong locations.
-
The speed and scale of these disruptions prompted the United Nations aviation agency’s assembly to rebuke Russia in October 2025 for satellite interference.
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassment. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
