adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Australian, Received-Pronunciation:/ɪmˈbæɹ.ə.sɪŋ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ɪmˈbæɹ.ə.sɪŋ/without the Mary–marry–merry merger
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH0 M B EH1 R AH0 S IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Causing embarrassment; leading to a feeling of uncomfortable shame or self-consciousness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The action of the verb to embarrass; embarrassment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Examples
May 11, 1715, Robert Wodrow, letter to Mrs Wodrow It seemed, at first, to be agreed, that the King should be addressed by the Assembly; but the time of presenting, because of the present embarrassings of affairs, to be left to the Commission.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
present participle and gerund of embarrass
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion
an awkward pause followed his remark
a sticky question
in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: awkward, sticky, unenviable
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
causing to feel shame or chagrin or vexation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the embarrassing moment when she found her petticoat down around her ankles
it was mortifying to know he had heard every word
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mortifying
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
By surface analysis, embarrass + -ing.
Across languages
Translations
52 source translations are retained for this English entry.
