as in uncomfortable
causing embarrassment
an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 embarrassing
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
That ignominy goes to Audi, with an embarrassing 269 problems reported per 100 vehicles.
—Carlton Reid, Wired News, 13 July 2025
Not by distorting the rules to avoid accountability and amplify his power.
— Alisa Kaplan, executive director, Reform for Illinois
That was quite an embarrassing word salad of an explanation by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon on his campaign fund indiscretions.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
Harry’s 2023 memoir, which detailed embarrassing revelations about the House of Windsor, only worsened tensions with his family.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Adjective
Especially after his only notable play last season was an embarrassing ball drop/fumble inside the one-yard line against the Texans, which resulted in a touchback.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
That ignominy goes to Audi, with an embarrassing 269 problems reported per 100 vehicles.
—Carlton Reid, Wired News, 13 July 2025
Not by distorting the rules to avoid accountability and amplify his power.
— Alisa Kaplan, executive director, Reform for Illinois
That was quite an embarrassing word salad of an explanation by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon on his campaign fund indiscretions.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
Harry’s 2023 memoir, which detailed embarrassing revelations about the House of Windsor, only worsened tensions with his family.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrassing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassing
Adjective
-
For marketers, this is both exciting and uncomfortable.—
Francesca Pezzoli,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
But the odd tone of their recent fight when Miranda comments on Carrie’s flirtation with her writer neighbor Duncan (Jonathan Cake) is uncomfortable.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Mehta highlighted how business units stow data, impeding cross-functional collaboration.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The slow development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure remains a critical challenge, impeding widespread adoption.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The house was a little awkward and needed some work, including in the living room, which had a mix of original wood flooring and vinyl.—
Thomas Fuller,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
-
Yet that has led to an awkward UX for those who lean into portrait mode.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Set a Timer For particularly difficult or unpleasant tasks, set a timer for a short duration—for example, five to 30 minutes—and commit to working on that task until the time is up.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
17 July 2025
-
There are telltale signs that there's too much moisture in your house, from condensation to unpleasant odors.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ullmann is the daughter of the late Swedish director Ingmar Bergman and the Norwegian actor Liv Ullmann, and specifics of her childhood are not difficult to locate.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
-
In a region where resources can be difficult to access and censorship persists, the initiative provided more than support.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.—
Bennett Durando,
The Denver Post,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The robot also managed to get up from a face-up position, even with a bag obstructing its view.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Stay High and Dry To avoid obstructing impressive scenery, a hog-wire railing framed in wood wraps this deck, which is set high above the water.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The board of the Regional Transportation Authority met Friday to discuss ways to respond to the cut, striking a note of optimism to counter the disturbing prediction for Tri-Rail’s future.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
25 July 2025
-
This is a disturbing statistic and speaks to an increase in the total number of people defacing themselves, but also a rise in the amount of ink per person.—
Scott Liftman,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassing. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share