Word
embarrassing
Phoneticsem·bar·rass·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪmˈbɛɹəsɪŋ/
UK/ɛmbˈæɹəsɪŋ/
Definitions
01causing shame or shyness
B1 · Intermediate
adj. making you feel ashamed, nervous, or uncomfortable in front of other people.
adj. causing a feeling of self-conscious distress or social awkwardness.
日本語:恥ずかしい※
“It was so embarrassing when I forgot my best friend's name at the party.”
“The politician faced an embarrassing series of questions regarding the sudden discrepancy in the campaign's financial records.”
Pitfall
I was very embarrassing when I fell down.
I was very embarrassed when I fell down.
Use 'embarrassing' for the situation that causes the feeling, and 'embarrassed' for the person who feels it.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the act of causing shame
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of making someone feel ashamed or uncomfortable.
n. the gerundial act of causing someone to feel self-conscious or socially awkward.
“The public embarrassing of the witness was unnecessary and cruel.”
“The deliberate embarrassing of junior staff members was cited as a primary reason for the department's toxic work environment.”
Usage
Often used as the subject of a sentence or after a preposition.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “embarrassing” in context.
Verb
01. avoid an embarrassing silence
“He started talking about the weather just to avoid an embarrassing silence.”
verb + adj + noun
02. find the situation embarrassing
“She found the situation embarrassing and quickly left the room.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
03. embarrassing moment
“Forgetting his best friend's name was a very embarrassing moment for him.”
adj + noun
04. embarrassing situation
“I tried to laugh to get out of the embarrassing situation, but no one else was smiling.”
adj + noun
05. embarrassing to admit
“It is embarrassing to admit that I still don't know how to ride a bicycle.”
adj + infinitive
Adverb
06. deeply embarrassing
“It was deeply embarrassing when my phone started ringing during the quietest part of the movie.”
adv + adj
07. highly embarrassing
“The company had to apologize for a highly embarrassing error in their latest advertisement.”
adv + adj
08. slightly embarrassing
“I made a slightly embarrassing mistake by calling my teacher 'Mom' by accident.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Embarrassed is the internal feeling of shame; embarrassing is the external quality that causes it.
RememberEmbarrassed = How I feel. Embarrassing = Why I feel it.
Etymology
By surface analysis, embarrass + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/embarrassing
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0