embarrassing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
Use the adjective embarrassing to describe something that is shameful or humiliating. You probably have a few embarrassing stories that you'd rather not remember, but your siblings are always happy to bring them up at holidays. It's really embarrassing how many people misspell embarrassing. The word has two r's and two s's but you might forget and leave one of them out. Imagine how embarrassing it would be if you were winning the third grade spelling bee and got the word embarrassing wrong. You know everyone would be talking about it. How embarrassing!
Vocabulary lists containing embarrassing
Awkward Moments
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Schooled
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Neighborhood Odes
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for many observers, the embarrassing details of their friendship raise larger questions that have less to do with Chopra than with the nature of the New Age wellness industry as a whole.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
During his questioning on May 4, old journals he kept from years ago took center stage, with Musk's lawyer highlighting some of the most embarrassing excerpts.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
The U.A.E. was displeased with the Israeli announcement and saw it as embarrassing, according to a person close to Emirati officials.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Far from improving its brand image, Air India has had to continue answering for an array of embarrassing operational lapses and safety violations in the past year.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
“If at any time what I’m saying makes it awkward or embarrassing for you, just turn around and leave,” said Ehrlichman.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
