What does embarrassedly mean?
Embarrassedly is an adverb meaning 'in an embarrassed manner' — it describes actions performed while experiencing the self-conscious discomfort we call embarrassment. Someone who laughs embarrassedly, mumbles embarrassedly, or glances away embarrassedly is displaying, through their behaviour, the flush and awkwardness of being caught out, praised unexpectedly, or placed in an uncomfortable situation. The adverb is built straightforwardly from the adjective 'embarrassed' plus the suffix '-ly', and it belongs chiefly to written or formal English: novels and journalism use it to convey a character's discomposure economically, while casual conversation tends to favour looser phrasing. Its connotations are mild and sympathetic rather than harsh — it signals transient social unease, not deep disgrace — and it should not be confused with 'embarrassingly', which instead describes things that cause embarrassment in others.
adverbIn a manner showing embarrassment or self-consciousness; with a feeling of awkwardness or shame in front of others.
- In a way that shows embarrassment, self-consciousness, or discomfiture.
"She laughed embarrassedly when the waiter sang happy birthday to her in front of the whole restaurant."
"He shuffled his feet and looked down embarrassedly as everyone turned to stare at him."
"'I didn't realise you were still here,' she said embarrassedly, hastily gathering her papers."
English borrowed 'embarrass' from Spanish 'embarazar' — which can mean 'to impede' — and ultimately traces back to Portuguese 'embaraçar', literally to entangle in the 'baraça', a noose or halter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of embarrassedly
Embarrassedly derives from the adjective 'embarrassed', which comes from the verb 'embarrass'. That verb was borrowed into English from French 'embarrasser', itself taken from Spanish 'embarazar', meaning to hamper or obstruct, and ultimately from Portuguese 'embaraçar' — literally to entangle in a 'baraça', a rope noose or halter. The figurative sense of being mentally 'entangled' or hindered evolved into the modern emotional sense of feeling awkward before others, and the adverb 'embarrassedly' followed once the participial adjective 'embarrassed' became established in the eighteenth century.
Related word forms
How embarrassedly is actually used
The word is somewhat formal or literary in register; everyday speech more often conveys the idea with phrases like 'with a sheepish grin' or simply by describing blushing or stammering. It is formed transparently from 'embarrassed' plus '-ly' and carries no negative judgement of character — it describes a passing social discomfort rather than lasting shame.
Easily confused with embarrassedly
Embarrassingly describes something that causes embarrassment (e.g. 'an embarrassingly bad performance'), while embarrassedly describes someone acting with or showing a feeling of embarrassment.