severely embarrassing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severely embarrassing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that causes a significant level of embarrassment. Example: "Forgetting my lines during the performance was severely embarrassing for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Ban said sexual violence by peacekeepers was "a number one priority" after a series of severely embarrassing revelations of rape and exploitation, often involving children.

The Guardian

China's central government has cracked down hard on religious activism in Tibet since ethnic riots in 2008 killed 19 people, many of them Han Chinese migrants, severely embarrassing rulers in the months leading to the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The New York Times

Barack Obama wrong footed Mitt Romney in a dramatic clash over the Benghazi attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya, an issue which could have been severely embarrassing to the president, but ultimately humiliated the Republican candidate.

The Guardian

Kenyan media reports suggest that some witnesses say they were under intense family and community pressure to pull out of the trial, which is severely embarrassing for Kenya's government.

Los Angeles Times

Over dinner, Chris once again acts so optimistic while discussing the break-up that Ann thinks their relationship is back on and tries to kiss him, severely embarrassing her.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Cameron: Be severely embarrassed.

The Guardian

The former High Court judge's dramatic resignation, just six days after accepting the post, has severely embarrassed the Home Secretary.

Independent

The IRA's activities against the British during World War II severely embarrassed the Irish government, which remained neutral.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Just a few weeks before these leadership changes, however, the Chinese government was severely embarrassed when Liu was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Superstardom didn't last long: the Blobster was severely embarrassed when a theme park built in his honour closed down in 1994, after only three months.

Independent

According to a report in Haaretz, the meeting was called regarding an affair which "severely embarrasses" a government institution or person.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation as "severely embarrassing", ensure the context clearly indicates the degree of discomfort or shame experienced by the subject. Use specific details to illustrate why the situation is significantly embarrassing.

Common error

Avoid using "severely embarrassing" as a generic way to describe mildly awkward situations. Reserve it for scenarios that genuinely involve a high degree of shame, humiliation, or discomfort to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severely embarrassing" functions as an adjectival phrase used to describe a situation or event that causes a significant degree of discomfort, shame, or awkwardness. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "severely embarrassing" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe situations causing significant discomfort or shame. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants the strong emphasis it provides, and avoid overuse in mildly awkward situations. Consider alternatives like "deeply humiliating" or "acutely mortifying" to convey similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly embarrassing

Uses 'highly' instead of 'severely', keeping the core meaning intact with a slightly different emphasis.

incredibly embarrassing

Replace "severely" with incredibly in order to describe how embarrassing something is

deeply humiliating

Replaces "embarrassing" with "humiliating" to emphasize the severity of the situation.

terribly humiliating

Similar to 'deeply humiliating', but emphasizes the magnitude of the humiliation.

acutely mortifying

Uses "mortifying" to intensify the embarrassment, suggesting a deep sense of shame or disgrace.

very humiliating

Simple substitution of "severely embarrassing" with alternative similar words.

extremely awkward

Substitutes "embarrassing" with "awkward", focusing on the uncomfortable nature of the situation.

intensely shameful

Highlights the feeling of shame associated with the embarrassing event.

utterly shameful

Highlights the extreme feeling of shame associated with the embarrassing event.

profoundly discomfiting

Replaces both "severely" and "embarrassing" with synonyms that express strong unease.

FAQs

How can I use "severely embarrassing" in a sentence?

You can use "severely embarrassing" to describe situations that cause significant shame or discomfort. For example, "Forgetting my speech at the conference was a "severely embarrassing" experience."

What are some alternatives to saying "severely embarrassing"?

Alternatives include "deeply humiliating", "extremely awkward", or "acutely mortifying", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "severely embarrassing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "severely embarrassing" is grammatically correct. "Severely" is an adverb modifying the adjective "embarrassing", forming a compound adjective phrase.

What's the difference between "slightly embarrassing" and "severely embarrassing"?

"Slightly embarrassing" describes a minor or mild sense of awkwardness or discomfort, while ""severely embarrassing"" indicates a much stronger, more intense feeling of shame or humiliation.