embarrassing

[im-ber-uhs-ing, em-] / ɪmˈbɛr əs ɪŋ, ɛm- /

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.

Souvenirs only make the cut for Californian Rob Singler and his family if they meet three criteria: “godawful” embarrassing, tiny and bearing the name of the vacation spot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

And then I thought she’ll do some really embarrassing bird noise.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2026

So at the risk of embarrassing myself with Gen-Z slang, I’ll stand my ground: The Dow is chopped!

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

She said she worried a lot about rising food costs and used a foodbank once but found the experience "embarrassing".

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

For some reason him seeing those pictures feels way more embarrassing than Elsie seeing them.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Vocabulary lists containing embarrassing

Awkward Moments

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Schooled

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Neighborhood Odes

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