embarrassment

American  

[em-bar-uhs-muhnt] / ɛmˈbær əs mənt /

noun

embarrassments plural

1. the state of being embarrassed; disconcertment; abashment.

   Synonyms:

   discomposure

2. an act or instance of embarrassing.

3. something that embarrasses.

4. an overwhelmingly excessive amount; overabundance.

   an embarrassment of riches.

5. the state of being in financial difficulties.

6. Medicine/Medical. impairment of functioning associated with disease.

   respiratory embarrassment.

---

embarrassment British  

/ ɪmˈbærəsmənt /

noun

1. the state of being embarrassed

2. something that embarrasses

3. a financial predicament

4. an excessive amount; superfluity

---

Synonym Usage

See shame.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preembarrassment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• embarrassments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of embarrassment

From the French word embarrassement, dating back to 1670–80. See embarrass, -ment

Explanation

When you feel embarrassment, you are self-conscious or ashamed. Embarrassment might keep you from wearing your Statue of Liberty Halloween costume in public. Something that makes you blush — like when ten people rush up to tell you how great your tuba solo was or realizing that you left the house in your pajama bottoms — causes you embarrassment. The person or thing that makes you feel awkward and ashamed can also be described as an embarrassment. To avoid embarrassment, remember to double the r's and s's when you spell embarrassment.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

embarrassment embarrassments

I learned about chocolatines last year from the Journal’s Joshua Robinson, who fainted from embarrassment when I walked into a Toulouse patisserie and ordered a “chocolatini,” like it was happy hour at an airport Chili’s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

This would risk becoming an embarrassment as well as a handicap.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Sara Brown, 51, the current owner, calls the inherited land “an embarrassment of riches.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

I wrote last week about opportunities in closed-end bond funds, particularly some issued by Franklin Resources’ Western Asset Management, or Wamco, amid the embarrassment from a recent scandal.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

I wasn’t expecting a kind word from her, and suddenly my cheeks felt hot with embarrassment.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

The moves by Khanna and Veasy put Republicans in an awkward spot, but they are likely just symbolic embarrassments.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2025

Why not say it because you know everybody’s thinking it, from those envious little brothers down in San Diego to the expensive embarrassments in New York.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025

It was one of a number of major embarrassments for the 23,500-capacity venue, the UK's largest indoor arena.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024

In fact, what’s kept from each character — hidden embarrassments and prideful lies — is the greatest pull of the plot.

From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2024

I thought about life, about my life, the embarrassments, the little coincidences, the shadows of alarm clocks on bedside tables.

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer

Related Words

• chagrin
• confusion
• difficulty
• dilemma
• mess
• mistake
• unease