embarrassed
ihm-BAR-uhst
Embarrassed (adjective) means feeling awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious. Example: “I felt so embarrassed when my phone rang loudly during the silent assembly.”
adjective
1
Feeling awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious.
"I felt so embarrassed when my phone rang loudly during the silent assembly."
"She was embarrassed after tripping in front of the whole class."
"He felt embarrassed about forgetting her name."
How to use embarrassed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe feeling of shame or awkwardness you get when something makes you look foolish, usually in front of others.
Common mistake
Double "r", double "s" — a commonly misspelled word.
Common pairings
feel embarrassed
embarrassed about
visibly embarrassed
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more embarrassed
- Superlative
- most embarrassed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I felt so _____ when my phone rang loudly during the silent assembly.
Etymology
The past participle of embarrass.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for embarrassed
See all rhymes for embarrassed →Frequently asked questions
What does “embarrassed” mean?
The word “embarrassed” means feeling awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious. In plain terms, the feeling of shame or awkwardness you get when something makes you look foolish, usually in front of others.
How do you pronounce “embarrassed”?
“Embarrassed” is pronounced ihm-BAR-uhst (/ɪmˈbæɹ.əst/ in IPA).
How do you use “embarrassed” in a sentence?
Here is “embarrassed” used in a sentence: “She was embarrassed after tripping in front of the whole class.”
What is another word for “embarrassed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “embarrassed” include abashed, ashamed, discombobulated, mortified, red in the face and shamefaced.
What is the opposite of “embarrassed”?
The opposite of “embarrassed” — its antonyms — are honored, proud and unabashed.
What part of speech is “embarrassed”?
“Embarrassed” is an adjective.
Is “embarrassed” a common word?
“Embarrassed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between embarrassed and ashamed?
Embarrassed means feeling awkward or self-conscious, usually about something social and often minor, such as tripping in public. Ashamed is stronger and more moral, implying guilt about something you believe was genuinely wrong. You can feel embarrassed by praise, but you are only ashamed of conduct you regret.
What is the difference between embarrassed and embarrassing?
Embarrassed describes how a person feels: "I was embarrassed." Embarrassing describes whatever causes the feeling: "an embarrassing mistake." Saying "I am embarrassing" when you mean you feel awkward is a common learner error, since it actually means you cause other people embarrassment.
Do you say "embarrassed about", "embarrassed by", or "embarrassed of"?
Standard English uses "embarrassed about" or "embarrassed by," as in "She was embarrassed about the mistake" or "embarrassed by the attention." "Embarrassed of" is often heard in casual speech, by analogy with "ashamed of," but it is considered nonstandard in careful writing.
How do you spell embarrassed correctly?
Embarrassed is spelled with a double r and a double s. It is one of the most frequently misspelled words in English, with "embarassed" (one r) and "embarrased" (one s) being the usual errors — remember "double r, double s."
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