embarrassing
Makes you blush
Embarrassing describes something that causes self-consciousness, awkwardness, or shame—typically by exposing a flaw, mistake, or private matter to others.
An embarrassing moment might involve tripping in public or forgetting someone's name.
The word can also characterize situations that reflect poorly on someone: The leaked emails were embarrassing for the company.
What counts as embarrassing varies by person and culture, though bodily functions, social blunders, and being caught in lies are near-universal triggers.
Causing painful embarrassment
- mortifyingCausing acute embarrassment
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- disgracefulCausing loss of respect
- degradingLowering in worth
cringe · cringeworthy · ignominious · inglorious · dishonorable · abject · demeaning · lowering
Lacking grace or ease
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- insecureLacking self-assurance
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- nakedWearing no garments
bare · defenseless · helpless · unprepared · caught off guard · blindsided · exposed · open
Foolish, costly mistake
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipupUnintentional minor error
- blooperEmbarrassing recorded mistake
flub · gaffe · mishap · bungle · goof · snafu · clanger · botch
Lacking physical coordination
- bumblingClumsily incompetent
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- gaucheSocially awkward, unrefined
maladroit · ungainly · gawky · stiff · uncoordinated · graceless · oafish · lumbering
Seized or grabbed
- revealedMade visible or known
- exposedOut in open
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
- unmaskedHad covering removed
outed · public · viral · screenshot · witnessed · overheard · walked in on · spotted
humiliating
Causing painful embarrassment
- mortifyingCausing acute embarrassment
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- disgracefulCausing loss of respect
degrading · cringe · cringeworthy · ignominious · inglorious · dishonorable · abject · demeaning · lowering · undignified
awkward
Lacking grace or ease
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- insecureLacking self-assurance
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
naked · bare · defenseless · helpless · unprepared · caught off guard · blindsided · exposed · open · susceptible
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipupUnintentional minor error
blooper · flub · gaffe · mishap · bungle · goof · snafu · clanger · botch · indiscretion
clumsy
Lacking physical coordination
gauche · maladroit · ungainly · gawky · stiff · uncoordinated · graceless · oafish · lumbering · unpolished
caught
Seized or grabbed
- revealedMade visible or known
- exposedOut in open
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
unmasked · outed · public · viral · screenshot · witnessed · overheard · walked in on · spotted · busted
flushed
Reddened from emotion
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- crimsonDeep purplish-red shade
- blushingFacial reddening from embarrassment
splotchy · rosy · glowing · scarlet · burning · feverish · pink · heated
- shamingshaming, humiliating, disgracing, dishonoring, degrading
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- offendinginsulting, offending, disrespecting, affronting, slighting
- humiliationashamed, abasement, chagrin, mortified, degradation
- mockerymockery, ridiculing, jeers, jeering, jibes
- outperformingsurpassing, exceeding, excelling, outperforming, outdoing
embarrassingproud
Satisfied by accomplishment
dignified · impressive · admirable · glorious · triumphant
embarrassingcomfortable
Physically at ease
pleasant · agreeable · comforting · reassuring · easy
- embarrassing momentSocially awkward incident