embarrassing
adjective
em·bar·rass·ing
im-ˈber-ə-siŋ 
-ˈba-rə-
: causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress : causing embarrassment
an embarrassing error
The official was ever so polite, and ever so sorry, but the rule was strict, and he could not let us in. It was very embarrassing, for many eyes were on us.—
Mark Twain
Mark TwainExamples of embarrassing in a Sentence
an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Recent Examples on the Web
This is just some of what Reece James had to say after Chelsea’s embarrassing 2-1 home defeat to Legia Warsaw in April.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 1 June 2025
As a result, the surface of the land and sea is an open book that anyone with an internet connection can read to the point where the embarrassing launch failure of a North Korean frigate is instantly world news instead of a vague rumor.
—David Szondy
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025
There are a lot of things that are still embarrassing to me.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
The Conference League victory was, well, success in Europe’s third-tier competition, where anything other than triumph would have been embarrassing for a team as well-resourced as Chelsea.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
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Simon Johnson, New York Times, 1 June 2025
As a result, the surface of the land and sea is an open book that anyone with an internet connection can read to the point where the embarrassing launch failure of a North Korean frigate is instantly world news instead of a vague rumor.
—David Szondy
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025
There are a lot of things that are still embarrassing to me.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
The Conference League victory was, well, success in Europe’s third-tier competition, where anything other than triumph would have been embarrassing for a team as well-resourced as Chelsea.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embarrassing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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