Vocabulary in context
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Embarrassment
A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness in response to a social blunder or awkward situation.
noun💡
Imagine This
During a class presentation, you mispronounce a word and the room goes quiet. Your cheeks heat as you search for the right words, wishing the ground would swallow you up.
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Sounds Like
em-BARR-uhss-ment
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Looks Like
Looks like the base verb 'embarrass' plus the noun suffix '-ment' (embarrass + ment).
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Remember This
Embarrassment often involves a blush or flushing of the face and a desire to retreat from others; the noun form is derived from the verb 'embarrass'.
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Other Forms
embarrassverb
embarrassedadjective
embarrassingadjective
embarrassinglyadverb
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Connect With
humiliation, mortification, awkwardness, discomfort, shame
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Note
Embarrassment is the state or feeling; 'embarrassed' describes someone who feels it, and 'embarrassing' describes something that causes it. Be careful not to confuse the noun with its verb form.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- Her embarrassment was obvious after she tripped on the stairs in front of the entire class.
- Public speaking can raise embarrassment even in seasoned performers, but they learn to recover quickly.
Synonyms
humiliationmortificationdiscomfitureawkwardnessshame
Antonyms
composurepoiseconfidence
Etymology
From French embarrasser 'to hinder, impede' with the English noun-forming suffix -ment; the word entered English to describe the state of being hindered by social awkwardness.
Mnemonic
EMBARRASSMENT contains BAR twice, like two barriers that block your confidence during a stumble; when you break through those barriers, you move past embarrassment.
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adjectiveRelating to or applying to events that have already occurred; taking effect from a date in the past.
Lobbyist
nounA person who tries to influence government decisions or policy, typically by meeting with lawmakers or officials to advocate on behalf of a client or cause.
Auspicious
adjectiveShowing signs or promise of future success; favorable and likely to lead to a good outcome.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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