embarrassment

[ em-bar-uhs-muhnt ]

noun

1. the state of being embarrassed; disconcertment; abashment.

   Synonyms: discomposure

2. an act or instance of embarrassing.
3. something that embarrasses.
4. an overwhelmingly excessive amount; overabundance:

   an embarrassment of riches.

5. the state of being in financial difficulties.
6. Medicine/Medical. impairment of functioning associated with disease:

   respiratory embarrassment.

Other Words From

• preem·barrass·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of embarrassment¹

From the French word embarrassement, dating back to 1670–80. See embarrass, -ment

Synonym Study

See shame.

Example Sentences

The Palestinian official told the BBC that the Hamas negotiators had adjusted their presence in the region and were keeping their locations secret to avoid embarrassment for host countries.

From BBC

One of his victims told BBC News NI that Morrow "thrived off me feeling shame and embarrassment".

From BBC

To my minor embarrassment, the event organizer requested that all roughly 20 of us introduce ourselves at the start of the meeting.

From Salon

In this case, that mainly includes the earnest David, a digital ad salesman and devoted family man with controlled obsessive-compulsive disorder and a low threshold for embarrassment, the latter of which Benji repeatedly tests.

From Los Angeles Times

But then, so is the Army, which cravenly accommodated Trump in a similar fashion by issuing a non-report to avoid any embarrassment to Trump.

From Salon

Related Words

• chagrin
• confusion
• difficulty
• dilemma
• mess
• mistake
• unease