1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

embarrassment

noun

im-ˈber-əs-mənt How to pronounce embarrassment (audio)
Definition of embarrassmentnext
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 Meanwhile, a major reboot out of Canton as Hall of Fame reduces its voting body from 50 to 25 in wake of last year’s embarrassment when all-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick stunningly did not get in on first ballot. — Greg Cote september 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026 Tim alternates between suspicion of Virginia and something that, to his embarrassment, might be love. — James Walton, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026 There was no embarrassment by their presence near his teammates and friends, just an appreciation for those who love and support him. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 And honestly, what a relief — the secondhand embarrassment from his rejection earlier in the season was too much to bear. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for embarrassment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassment
  1. confusion
  2. obstacle
  3. humiliation
  4. hurdle
  5. discomfort
  6. obstruction
  7. unease
  8. interference
Noun
  • How much does nothing weigh, when the nothing is filled with longing, curiosity, confusion, discomfort, and grief?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Without that discipline, organizations may end up creating more dashboards while preserving the same confusion.
    — Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • The report released by the NBA’s investigators at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz portrays Ballmer and the team as treating the league’s salary cap rules not as strict mandates, but as obstacles to be evaded, like traffic cones.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Around 32% of previous cohorts are now hiring or championing others for more senior roles, with 68% of alums citing access to decision makers is the single biggest obstacle to career progression.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Noun
  • And Harvey faces his overbearing father’s disappointment most glaringly with the public humiliation of an emotional breakdown while taking part in an amateur wrestling match the bodybuilder entered to prove his physical strength.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Lance Oppenheim’s new film, Primetime, returns to Chris Hansen and To Catch a Predator, a television format that made public humiliation feel like a public service.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of humiliation
Noun
  • Earlier models relied on broad hydrological assumptions and missed practical engineering hurdles.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • At that moment Benson was tempted to use his vertical leap of more than 40 inches to simply glide over him like going over hurdles in a 110-meter race.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Noun
  • The Dodgers star has missed four games because of discomfort in his right biceps that has flared several times this season.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Due to the discomfort, my doctor ordered me to remain at home until it can be sorted out.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of discomfort
Noun
  • Toliaferro is charged with malice murder, criminal trespass and obstruction in the death of 30-year-old Kenyon Jeffries, according to the district attorney's office.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The driver of the vehicle, identified as Fred Guy Monaco of North Little Rock, was arrested on charges of first degree forgery, financial fraud, nonfinancial fraud and obstruction of government operations.
    — Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstruction
Noun
  • Her government was also the first led by a party with neo-fascist roots, and European allies and financial markets viewed her with unease.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The rise in bond yields is a global phenomenon, rooted in investors’ unease over unchecked government spending and intensified by bets that central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • Getting around interference The biggest technical hurdle in spectrum sharing is interference – what happens when two signals overlap and scramble each other, like two people shouting different things in your ear at the same time.
    — Aylin Yener, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
  • When the waves were reunited, the team used an effect called interference, which occurs when the peaks and troughs of two misaligned waves meet, to measure changes in the free-falling wave.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of interference

Phrases Containing embarrassment

Browse Nearby Words

embarrassing
embarrassment
embarrassment of riches
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Embarrassment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassment. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All