EMBARRASSING
awkward, embarrassing, sticky, unenviable
(adjective) hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment; “awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion”; “an awkward pause followed his remark”; “a sticky question”; “in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign”
embarrassing, mortifying
(adjective) causing to feel shame or chagrin or vexation; “the embarrassing moment when she found her petticoat down around her ankles”; “it was mortifying to know he had heard every word”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
embarrassing
present participle of embarrass
Noun
embarrassing (usually uncountable, plural embarrassings)
The action of the verb to embarrass; embarrassment.
Adjective
embarrassing (comparative more embarrassing, superlative most embarrassing)
Causing embarrassment; leading to a feeling of uncomfortable shame or self-consciousness.
Synonyms
• awkward
• shameful
Source: Wiktionary
EMBARRASS
Em*bar"rass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embarrassed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embarrassing.] Etym: [F. embarrasser (cf. Sp. embarazar, Pg. embara,
Pr. barras bar); pref. em- (L. in) + LL. barra bar. See Bar.]
1. To hinder from freedom of thought, speech, or action by something
which impedes or confuses mental action; to perplex; to discompose;
to disconcert; as, laughter may embarrass an orator.
2. To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct; as,
business is embarrassed; public affairs are embarrassed.
3. (Com.)
Definition: To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to
incumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands; -- said
of a person or his affairs; as, a man or his business is embarrassed
when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements.
Syn.
– To hinder; perplex; entangle; confuse; puzzle; disconcert; abash;
distress.
– To Embarrass, Puzzle, Perplex. We are puzzled when our faculties
are confused by something we do not understand. We are perplexed when
our feelings, as well as judgment, are so affected that we know not
how to decide or act. We are embarrassed when there is some bar or
hindrance upon us which impedes our powers of thought, speech, or
motion. A schoolboy is puzzled by a difficult sum; a reasoner is
perplexed by the subtleties of his opponent; a youth is sometimes so
embarrassed before strangers as to lose his presence of mind.
Em*bar"rass, n. Etym: [F. embarras. See Embarrass, v. t.]
Definition: Embarrassment. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition