Feel embarrassing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Feel embarrassing" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "Feel embarrassed"? If this is the case, you can use it when expressing a sense of shame or discomfort about a situation or action. Example: "I always feel embarrassed when I trip in public."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Even the most ordinary things can feel embarrassing.

The New Yorker

It might feel embarrassing at first – but talking to the people you love, and who love you, can help.

The Guardian

That same Time Out article suggests that UK comedy albums were more musical (or indeed, music hall) than their American equivalents – an inheritance that came to feel embarrassing to the "comedy is the new rock'n'roll" 90s generation.

The Guardian

Elsewhere, vegan specific-dating apps never took off – they feel embarrassing now, for embodying a type of veganism that had already become outdated before they were launched.

Vice

It will feel embarrassing at first but constant, everyday speech will make you more fluent.

WikiHow

It may feel embarrassing initially having people ask "Why does your brother/sister act like that?", but after some time, you'll learn to deal with it.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Sometimes I trip and I feel embarrassed or I break a bowl and I feel embarrassed.

Huffington Post

I feel embarrassed now.

The New Yorker

Clearly, I feel embarrassed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Greg Dyke must feel embarrassed.

The Guardian

He added: "I feel embarrassed.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct adjective form, "embarrassed", to describe how a person feels. For example, say "I feel embarrassed" instead of "I feel embarrassing".

Common error

Avoid using "embarrassing" to describe your own feelings. "Embarrassing" describes a situation that causes embarrassment, not the feeling itself. Use "embarrassed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel embarrassing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is to use the adjective "embarrassed" to describe the feeling. Ludwig AI indicates that "feel embarrassing" is not correct in English, suggesting the intended meaning is to express a state of being embarrassed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel embarrassing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this sentiment is to say ""feel embarrassed"". As Ludwig AI highlights, the adjective "embarrassing" describes a situation or thing that causes embarrassment, while "embarrassed" describes the feeling itself. While the phrase does appear in some contexts, including News & Media and Wiki sources, its usage is infrequent. To avoid grammatical errors, writers should use "embarrassed" when describing their own feelings and consider alternative phrases like "feel ashamed" or "feel awkward" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Feel embarrassed

Changes the adjective to its correct form, 'embarrassed,' to describe the feeling of shame or discomfort.

Feel ashamed

Replaces "embarrassing" with "ashamed", conveying a stronger sense of guilt or disgrace.

Feel awkward

Substitutes "embarrassing" with "awkward", indicating a feeling of unease or discomfort in a social situation.

Feel self-conscious

Replaces "embarrassing" with "self-conscious", highlighting a feeling of being overly aware of oneself and one's actions.

Feel humiliated

Replaces "embarrassing" with "humiliated", expressing a feeling of having one's pride or dignity damaged.

Feel foolish

Substitutes "embarrassing" with "foolish", suggesting a feeling of being silly or ridiculous.

Feel uncomfortable

Replaces "embarrassing" with "uncomfortable", indicating a general feeling of unease or distress.

Feel mortified

Replaces "embarrassing" with "mortified", conveying a feeling of extreme embarrassment or shame.

Feel sheepish

Substitutes "embarrassing" with "sheepish", suggesting a feeling of being slightly embarrassed or ashamed, often in a playful way.

Feel chagrin

Replaces "embarrassing" with "chagrin", expressing a feeling of disappointment or annoyance at having failed or been humiliated.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say you experience a feeling of shame or discomfort?

The correct way to express that you feel shame or discomfort is to say "I "feel embarrassed"". Using "embarrassing" as an adjective to describe your feelings is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "embarrassing" versus "embarrassed"?

"Embarrassing" describes something that causes someone to feel shame or discomfort (e.g., "That was an embarrassing situation"). "Embarrassed" describes the feeling itself (e.g., "I "feel embarrassed"").

What can I say instead of "feel embarrassing"?

Instead of "feel embarrassing", you can say "feel ashamed", "feel awkward", or "feel self-conscious" depending on the context. The most direct replacement is to say ""feel embarrassed"".

Is "feel embarrassing" ever correct in a sentence?

No, "feel embarrassing" is generally not correct. The adjective "embarrassing" describes something that causes embarrassment, not the feeling itself. You would say something is embarrassing, but you would feel embarrassed.