# embarrassingly

/ɪmˈbɛɹəsɪŋɫi/ (US) · /ɛmbˈæɹəsɪŋli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/embarrassingly
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

in a way that makes you feel very ashamed or embarrassed. You use it to describe an action that is so bad or silly that it causes you to feel this way.

For teachers: in a manner that causes or is likely to cause a sense of shame, self-consciousness, or humiliation. Typically modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate the degree of social discomfort.

## Examples

- He made an embarrassingly loud noise in the quiet library.
- The actor gave an embarrassingly long speech that lasted for over an hour, much to the audience's discomfort.
- The politician's embarrassingly short memory was evident when he forgot the names of several key staff members during the press conference.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.