Embarrassed Meaning

UK /ɪmˈbærəsd/
US /ɪmˈbærəst/
Word Definition
embarrassed meaning

Embarrassed Definition & Usage

adjective

Feeling self-conscious, awkward, or ashamed, often as a result of a social mistake, being caught in an uncomfortable situation, or drawing unwanted attention.

Examples

  • "He felt embarrassed when he realized he had forgotten her name."
  • "She was embarrassed by the unexpected compliment in front of her friends."
  • "Tom was embarrassed when his phone went off loudly during the meeting."
  • "I felt so embarrassed when I tripped in front of the entire class."
  • "He was embarrassed about not knowing how to answer the question."
verb

To make someone feel self-conscious, awkward, or ashamed, often in a social context.

Examples

  • "His constant teasing embarrassed her in front of her friends."
  • "The unexpected question embarrassed the speaker."
  • "She didn’t want to embarrass him, so she kept quiet."
  • "It was clear that the comment embarrassed him, as he turned bright red."
  • "Her comment about his outfit embarrassed him more than she realized."

Cultural Context

'Embarrassment' is a universal emotion but can vary significantly in different cultural contexts. In some cultures, it is more socially acceptable to show discomfort or to downplay one's mistakes, while in others, the pressure to conform and avoid drawing attention to personal mistakes can be overwhelming.

The Unlikely Hero

Story

The Unlikely Hero

Ella had always been a confident speaker, but nothing had prepared her for the moment when the microphone cut out during her big presentation. She looked around at the audience, her face turning crimson with embarrassment. The room, once filled with expectant faces, was now awkwardly silent. She stumbled over her words, trying to fix the issue, but every passing second felt like an eternity. As she fumbled with the equipment, her colleague Jake, noticing her discomfort, stepped forward to help. With a calm demeanor, he fixed the mic and turned to the audience, cracking a light joke about the situation. The crowd laughed, and suddenly, the tension lifted. Ella, still red-faced but now smiling, continued her presentation with renewed confidence. Later, she would laugh at how embarrassed she had been, but in that moment, Jake’s kindness had turned a potentially disastrous situation into one she could look back on with pride. Even though the technical glitch had made her feel self-conscious, it was the support of her colleague that truly helped her through the embarrassment. 'Next time, I’ll be prepared for everything,' she thought, as she walked off stage, feeling a little more at ease in her own skin.

The Unlikely Hero