embarrassing

ADJECTIVE

humiliating, shaming

Synonyms

STRONGEST

awkward confusing difficult disconcerting distressing disturbing exasperating inconvenient perplexing puzzling shameful ticklish tricky troublesome troubling uncomfortable unseemly upsetting worrisome

STRONG

bewildering compromising discomfiting discommoding distracting mortifying rattling

WEAK

delicate disagreeable discommodious equivocal impossible incommodious inopportune sensitive sticky touchy uneasy unpropitious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

convenient easy helpful straightforward uncomplicated

WEAK

comfortable unshameful

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.

An alternative is that civil servants were reluctant to raise the alarm about Mr. Mandelson because Mr. Starmer already had announced the appointment and withdrawing it would have been embarrassing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

We dislike insecure bellicosity not just because it’s embarrassing, but because it is ineffective.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

I look at it feeling sorry for us, for those two kids, that this is an embarrassing moment that’s on camera.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Aimee said leaking was "extremely embarrassing" and it was a reason why many women give up exercising or stop going out socially.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

This was embarrassing, and he was kidding himself.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Vocabulary lists containing embarrassing

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