EMBARRASSING Synonyms: 175 Similar and Opposite Words

embarrassing 1 of 2

adjective

im-ˈber-ə-siŋ

Definition of embarrassing

as in uncomfortable

causing embarrassment an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

embarrassing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of embarrass

as in confusing

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress the modest young soldiers were embarrassed by the public praise for their heroism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hampering

to create difficulty for the work or activity of a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in complicating

to make complex or difficult claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of embarrassing

Adjective

Celtic exited this season’s Champions League in August after an embarrassing 5-1 thrashing by LASK in Austria, losing the tie 5-4 on aggregate having been 4-0 ahead at one stage. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 But no one gets in and out of QVC without at least one embarrassing blunder. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

Things escalate as the two share a car ride home from a fancy gala and the bad man yells at her for embarrassing him. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 Neither party acted on it; Republicans wanted to avoid embarrassing Trump, while Democrats wanted to avoid embarrassing Nancy Pelosi, whose husband is an active trader. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for embarrassing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrassing

Adjective

The quarterback Mike Macdonald has earned his paychecks from making quarterbacks uncomfortable.

— Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Probably not enough to win, but enough to make laying nearly a touchdown uncomfortable.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncomfortable

Verb

The officials said the restrictions were disrupting high-speed military drones, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks and conduct operations along the front line.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Kyiv sees this as an attempt to pressure it into concessions by hampering its aerial defense and military operations.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

But complicating the government's efforts to bring the French deficit under control are widespread protests that have turned increasingly violent since starting as a Parisian student movement last month.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Previous Ebola outbreaks were marked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which experts said have contributed to the mistrust of local communities, complicating the efforts to halt the spread.

— Monika Pronczuk, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of complicating

Adjective

The Basketmaker—whose skills go far beyond furniture making—weaves her a match, Fiddler on the Roof-like, and the Fisherwoman, after an awkward matrimonial moment, takes Wicker Husband home to her funky little cottage.

— Valerie Monroe, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026
The pushback is awkward for a government that went out of its way to land the project.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of awkward

Verb

The film approaches its health crisis with amazing balance and breadth, resulting in a mortifying conflict that feels uniquely global in scale.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Just last year, the Trust for Public Land scored the city way down at 90th out of 100 cities, the kind of mortifying ranking usually occupied in other categories by Mississippi (sorry, Mississippi).

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Definition of mortifying

Verb

Advertisement But other allies of Jackson say an overcautious campaign is impeding the Bernie Sanders progressive and stalwart labor champion from connecting with voters.

— Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Schwank also took issue with ICE’s characterization that Moreida was standing in the middle of an active road and impeding law enforcement’s actions.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026

Definition of perplexing

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“Embarrassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrassing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of embarrassing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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