Definition

Adverb In a manner that causes embarrassment, awkwardness, or self-consciousness. It describes an action or quality that is so pronounced or evident that it makes others or oneself feel uncomfortable or ashamed.

Usage

The adverb "embarrassingly" is used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate that the action or quality it describes is a source of embarrassment. It often precedes the word it modifies.

Examples

• The team played embarrassingly badly in the championship game.
• He was embarrassingly late to his own wedding.
• She realized she had embarrassingly mispronounced the CEO's name during her presentation.
• The movie's special effects look embarrassingly outdated now.

Advanced Usage

• "embarrassingly + adjective": This is a very common construction where the adverb intensifies an adjective that describes an awkward or shameful state.
  • The instructions were embarrassingly simple for a university-level course.
  • His wealth is embarrassingly obvious from his collection of luxury cars.
• "embarrassingly enough": A phrase used to introduce a statement that the speaker finds awkward to admit.
  • Embarrassingly enough, I still don't know how to change a tire.

Variants and Related Words

• Embarrass (verb): To cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
  • His loud comment embarrassed his friend.
• Embarrassed (adjective): Feeling or showing embarrassment.
  • She had an embarrassed smile on her face.
• Embarrassing (adjective): Causing embarrassment.
  • It was an embarrassing mistake.
• Embarrassment (noun): A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness; or a person or thing causing this feeling.
  • He was a source of embarrassment to his family.

Synonyms

• Awkwardly
• Shamefully
• Cringingly
• Humiliatingly
• Painfully (in the sense of causing discomfort, e.g., )

Antonyms

• Impressively
• Admirably
• Gracefully

Adverb

1. causing embarrassment
   • the great man was embarrassingly humble and self-effacing