embarrass
verb (used with object)
to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash.
were embarrassing
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past progressiveof embarrass.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Wolff has said that some of his emails were embarrassing and he would have worded them differently.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
One moment the Cubs were embarrassing the Dodgers, the next moment they were enraging them, a 4-2 loss that dropped the Dodgers to 3-6 since their 8-0 start.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2025
Banners dotted around a constituency calling MP Nadine Dorries a "dosser" were "embarrassing", the chair of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservatives said.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2023
The only people who were embarrassing in this whole ordeal were the cops — adults who work in public service with less impulse control than my child.
From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2023
They were embarrassing to watch, but not so embarrassing that I didn't.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
