noun
embarrassment
ihm-BAR-uhs-muhnt
noun
1
A feeling of awkward shame or self-consciousness.
"He turned red with embarrassment when he realized his mistake."
"To her embarrassment, her phone rang loudly during the ceremony."
2
A person or thing that causes shame or discredit to others.
"The scandal became a major embarrassment for the government."
How to Use Embarrassment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the awkward feeling itself, or something/someone that brings shame or discredit.
Common pairings
out of embarrassment
an embarrassment to
cause embarrassment
Word Forms
embarrassments plural
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Etymology
From "embarrass" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ment".