Embarrassed Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：Feeling ashamed or awkward (Embarrassed)

Embarrassed 🔊

/ɪmˈbærəst/

adj.

Feeling shy, uncomfortable, or ashamed because of something silly you did or something that happened to you.

Embarrassed person blushing after a social mistake illustration

Feeling ashamed or awkward 🔊

➕

/ˈfiːlɪŋ əˈʃeɪmd ɔːr ˈɔːkwərd/

adj.

The state of feeling self-conscious, uncomfortable, or ashamed due to a socially awkward incident or mistake.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

em- (in) + bar (barrier) + -ass (verb suffix) + -ed (adj.), originally 'to obstruct'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'bar' blocking your path, making you stumble and feel awkward in front of others.

📖 Example

I was so embarrassed when I spilled my drink all over my new shirt at the party. 🔊 I was so embarrassed when I spilled my drink all over my new shirt at the party.

🔗 Collocations

feel embarrassed – to experience the emotion of shame or awkwardness

be embarrassed about – to feel shame or discomfort regarding a specific situation or action

embarrassed silence – an awkward quiet moment caused by a social blunder

🔄 Synonyms

ashamed (adj.) – feeling shame or guilt about something one has done

awkward (adj.) – causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience

mortified (adj.) – feeling extremely embarrassed or humiliated

🚫 Antonyms

proud (adj.) – feeling deep satisfaction or triumph over one's own or another's achievements

confident (adj.) – feeling sure of oneself and one's abilities

composed (adj.) – calm and in control of one's emotions

🌱 Derivatives

embarrassment (n.) – the state of being embarrassed

embarrass (v.) – to cause someone to feel awkward or ashamed

embarrassingly (adv.) – in a manner that causes embarrassment

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from French 'embarrasser' (to obstruct), via Spanish 'embarazar', from Portuguese 'embaraçar' (to entangle). The social awkwardness sense emerged in the 17th century.