embarrassing

[ɪmˈbæɹəsɪŋ]

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embarrass

An embarrassing situation is one that makes someone feel uncomfortable or silly.

The word "embarrassing" can be used in different ways. For example, if you spill coffee all over your shirt at a meeting, it's an embarrassing moment for you. But the word can also describe something that someone else does that's awkward or silly - like when a friend accidentally sends a weird text to the whole group chat. In this case, the situation is embarrassing not just because of what happened, but also because others get to see and make fun of it.

How common is "embarrassing"?

Word embarrassing is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

To humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to disconcert; to abash
Example: The crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him.
To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.
Example: The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.
To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.
Example: A man or his business is embarrassed when he cannot meet his pecuniary engagements.

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