embarrassment
Americannoun
-
embarrassments
plural
-
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.
noun
-
the state of being embarrassed
-
something that embarrasses
-
a financial predicament
-
an excessive amount; superfluity
Synonym Usage
See shame.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing embarrassment
Emotions on Display
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Much Ado: Synonyms for "Many"
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"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
He was drawn to the freedom of asking the chatbot a question about his results any time of day, and without judgment or embarrassment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Hillbilly Elegy” was turned into a 2020 film by Ron Howard, but it is mostly remembered as an embarrassment.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
An absolute embarrassment of riches — not that the Rams are shy about it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
An account of the candidate’s old-fashioned embarrassment, expressed to Mr. Devine, about having a child out of wedlock is practically endearing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Koffi was grateful the darker hue of her skin couldn’t betray her embarrassment.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Their affiliation with the foundation ultimately became institutional embarrassments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2025
The moves by Khanna and Veasy put Republicans in an awkward spot, but they are likely just symbolic embarrassments.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2025
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
Humza Yousaf, still a relatively new leader, seems to have been unable to catch a break as he grapples with a series of embarrassments that just seem to keep coming.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2024
The dual embarrassments would have the mutually reinforcing effect of reorienting Ernest and his laboratory toward much more careful research.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
