embarrassment Definition
- 1a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness
- 2an act or instance of embarrassing someone
Using embarrassment: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "embarrassment" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She felt a deep sense of embarrassment when she realized she had worn mismatched shoes to work.
Example
The politician's scandal caused great embarrassment for his party.
Example
He tried to hide his embarrassment by laughing it off.
Example
I caused an embarrassment for my family by getting into a fight at the wedding reception.
embarrassment Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for embarrassment
Antonyms for embarrassment
Idioms Using embarrassment
Example
He made a spectacle of himself at the party by drinking too much and dancing on the table.
Example
She turned beet red when she realized she had accidentally sent an email complaining about her boss to her boss.
Example
After getting caught cheating on the exam, he knew he had to face the music and accept the failing grade.
Phrases with embarrassment
to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed
Example
I almost died of embarrassment when I realized I had been walking around with my fly open all day.
to cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed
Example
He put his coworker to embarrassment by pointing out her mistake in front of everyone.
save someone's embarrassment
to prevent someone from feeling embarrassed or ashamed
Example
She saved her friend's embarrassment by quickly changing the subject when she noticed her friend's dress was on backwards.
Origins of embarrassment
from French 'embarras', meaning 'obstacle, obstruction, perplexity'
Summary: embarrassment in Brief
The term 'embarrassment' [ɪmˈbærəsmənt] refers to feelings of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness, often resulting from an act or instance of embarrassing someone. It spans contexts from social faux pas to public scandals, exemplified by 'The politician's scandal caused great embarrassment for his party.' 'Embarrassment' extends into phrases like 'die of embarrassment,' and idioms like 'make a spectacle of oneself,' denoting attention-grabbing behavior, and 'face the music,' implying acceptance of consequences.