embarrassing

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/ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ/
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Causing shame, awkwardness, or reputational damage, from a private mistake to a public failure that makes someone look foolish.
Practice using embarrassing in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • A second data leak would be deeply embarrassing to the company.
  • He told an embarrassing story from his first week at work.
  • The report was embarrassing for the government.
  • The embarrassing mistake made her blush.
  • Officials tried to explain the embarrassing error.

Similar words

awkward
unflattering
uncomfortable
cringeworthy
shameful
humiliating
damaging
discrediting
awkward
damning

Meanings

Causing shame or awkwardness

adjective
feelings
neutral
Making someone feel exposed, self-conscious, or ashamed, especially after a mistake, awkward moment, or unwanted attention.

Usage

Use embarrassing for the thing or situation that causes the feeling. Use embarrassed for the person who feels it.

Examples

  • The embarrassing mistake made her blush.
  • It was embarrassing to forget his name at dinner.
  • He told an embarrassing story from his first week at work.
  • The embarrassing photo spread through the group chat.
  • She tried to laugh off the embarrassing silence.
  • His loud apology made the moment even more embarrassing.

Common mistakes

Embarrassed is used for the feeling person, while embarrassing names the cause.
IncorrectCorrect
I felt embarrassing after the mistake. I felt embarrassed after the mistake.
It was an embarrassed mistake. It was an embarrassing mistake.
She was embarrassing by the question. She was embarrassed by the question.
That situation was very embarrass. That situation was very embarrassing.

Similar words

awkward
humiliating
mortifying
shameful
uncomfortable
cringeworthy
painful

Damaging reputation

adjective
public life
neutral
Making a person, group, or institution look foolish, dishonest, or incompetent in public.

Usage

Use embarrassing when a public fact, failure, or disclosure harms someone's image, often with for or to before the affected person or group.

Examples

  • The report was embarrassing for the government.
  • A second data leak would be deeply embarrassing to the company.
  • The embarrassing defeat raised questions about the team's preparation.
  • Officials tried to explain the embarrassing error.
  • The leaked emails put the minister in an embarrassing position.
  • An embarrassing audit exposed years of careless spending.

Common mistakes

The adjective often needs for or to before the person, group, or institution whose reputation is damaged.
IncorrectCorrect
The report was embarrassed for the company. The report was embarrassing for the company.
The loss embarrassed for the club. The loss was embarrassing for the club.
The audit put the minister on an embarrassing position. The audit put the minister in an embarrassing position.
The scandal was embarrassing the government. The scandal was embarrassing for the government.

Similar words

damaging
discrediting
humiliating
compromising
awkward
damning
unflattering

Usage

Use embarrassing for the cause of shame or public discredit. Use embarrassed for the person who feels it.

Common mistakes

Embarrassed is used for the feeling person, so I felt embarrassing should be I felt embarrassed.

Etymology

Formed from embarrass + -ing. Embarrass entered English in the 1600s from French embarrasser, literally meaning to block, and later developed the sense of making someone feel awkward.

FAQ

What does embarrassing mean?

Embarrassing describes something that causes shame, awkwardness, self-consciousness, or public discredit.

What is the difference between embarrassing and embarrassed?

Embarrassing describes the cause, while embarrassed describes the person who feels ashamed or awkward.

Can embarrassing describe a public failure?

Yes. A report, scandal, defeat, or mistake can be embarrassing if it makes a person or institution look foolish or dishonest.

Is embarrassing the same as awkward?

They overlap, but awkward can mean clumsy or uncomfortable without the stronger feeling of shame carried by embarrassing.

How is embarrassing spelled?

Embarrassing has two r's and two s's. The common misspelling embarassing drops one r.

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