
Embarrassment
A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness in response to a social blunder or awkward situation.
nounEmbarrassment
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.
Sounds Like
em-BARR-uhss-ment
Looks Like
Looks like the base verb 'embarrass' plus the noun suffix '-ment' (embarrass + ment).
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'.
Other Forms
Connect With
humiliation, mortification, awkwardness, discomfort, shame
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.
