embarrassment
Americannoun
-
the state of being embarrassed; disconcertment; abashment.
- Synonyms:
- discomposure
-
an act or instance of embarrassing.
-
something that embarrasses.
-
an overwhelmingly excessive amount; overabundance.
an embarrassment of riches.
-
the state of being in financial difficulties.
-
Medicine/Medical. impairment of functioning associated with disease.
respiratory embarrassment.
Related Words
See shame.
Other Word Forms
- preembarrassment noun
Etymology
Origin of embarrassment
From the French word embarrassement, dating back to 1670–80. See embarrass, -ment
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.
I laughed at my own joke, a move so far beyond cool that my head actually exploded from embarrassment.
From Literature
Instantly, the sadness and embarrassment welcomed guilt to the party.
From Literature
It took this group a while to get to the source of embarrassment, but eventually they did.
From Literature
My cheeks flared hot with embarrassment, but I hoped the depot’s darkness would keep that information from Aunt Kate’s detection.
From Literature
He could only imagine how unpresentable he looked, but he purposely didn’t imagine it because the embarrassment would be too great.
From Literature
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.
