When you want to write the emotion embarrassment, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing not telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Embarrassment is a complex emotion that is often characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, awkwardness, and shame. It typically arises in situations where we feel exposed or vulnerable, such as when we make a mistake or are caught in an awkward situation. Embarrassment can be both a social and a personal emotion, as it involves both our internal feelings about ourselves and our external perceptions of how others perceive us. Overall, embarrassment is a natural and common human experience that can be difficult to manage but can also help us learn and grow as individuals.

Different Types of Embarrassment

Here are some different types of embarrassment:

• Blushing or flushing of the face
• Stuttering or stumbling over words
• Avoiding eye contact or hiding one's face
• Fidgeting or nervously adjusting clothing or hair
• Laughing nervously or making self-deprecating jokes
• Apologizing excessively or over-explaining
• Feeling hot or sweaty
• Self-consciousness or feeling exposed

Situations Associated with Embarrassment

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of embarrassment:

• Being caught in a lie or deception
• Making a mistake in public
• Being publicly rejected or turned down
• Failing to meet expectations or goals
• Being exposed or vulnerable in front of others
• Wearing inappropriate clothing or having a wardrobe malfunction
• Being the center of attention in an awkward or uncomfortable situation
• Being called out or corrected in front of others
• Accidentally revealing something personal or embarrassing

Physical Reactions to Embarrassment

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing embarrassment might have:

• Blushing or flushing of the face, neck or ears
• Avoiding eye contact or looking down
• Covering the face with hands or objects
• Fidgeting or wringing hands
• Awkward or nervous laughter
• Stuttering or stumbling over words
• Apologizing excessively or repeatedly
• Self-deprecation or minimizing achievements

Thoughts Associated with Embarrassment

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing embarrassment might have:

• I can't believe I did/said that.
• Everyone is probably laughing at me right now.
• I wish the ground would swallow me whole.
• I feel so exposed and vulnerable.
• I'm such an idiot.
• Why did I even try?
• I don't belong here.
• I'll never live this down.
• I hope nobody brings this up again.

Atmosphere of Embarrassment

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of embarrassment in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Choose a setting that amplifies the character's feelings of embarrassment, such as a crowded party or a public speaking event.
• Use sensory details to create a sense of discomfort or awkwardness, such as describing the character's sweating palms or the sound of their voice cracking.
• Utilize body language to convey the character's embarrassment, such as blushing, avoiding eye contact, or fidgeting.
• Use dialogue to highlight the character's embarrassment, such as having them stumble over their words or apologize excessively.
• Show how the character's environment reacts to their embarrassment, such as people staring or whispering about them.

Verbs Associated with Embarrassment

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of embarrassment:

• Blush
• Stutter
• Stammer
• Fidget
• Cringe
• Flinch
• Squirm
• Sweat
• Hesitate
• Apologize
• Cover face
• Avoid eye contact
• Shuffle feet
• Clear throat

Emotions Before Embarrassment

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences embarrassment:

• Nervousness
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Insecurity
• Humiliation
• Discomfort
• Self-consciousness
• Shame
• Guilt
• Regret
• Awkwardness
• Unease
• Apprehension
• Resentment

Emotions After Embarrassment

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences embarrassment:

• Humiliation
• Shame
• Guilt
• Regret
• Self-consciousness
• Insecurity
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Disappointment
• Resentment
• Avoidance
• Withdrawal
• Depression
• Defensiveness

Telling Embarrassment Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion embarrassment in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• John was embarrassed when he realized he was wearing mismatched shoes.
• Mary felt embarrassed when she forgot her lines during the school play.
• Tom's face turned red with embarrassment when he spilled his drink all over himself.
• Jane was embarrassed when she realized she had been talking too loud on her phone in a quiet library.
• Mike felt embarrassed when he stumbled over his words while trying to ask his crush out on a date.
• Sarah's embarrassment was evident as she tripped and fell in front of a group of strangers.
• Bob's embarrassment was palpable as he realized he had been walking around with his fly down.
• Emily's face flushed with embarrassment when she accidentally sent a personal text message to her boss instead of her friend.
• Jim felt embarrassed when he realized he had been singing out loud in public without realizing it.

Practical Examples of Showing Embarrassment

Here are some examples of showing embarrassment in a sentence:

• She felt her cheeks burn as she realized everyone was staring at her.
• He fidgeted with his shirt collar, trying to conceal the stain from the coffee he spilled earlier.
• She lowered her eyes to the ground, unable to bear the gaze of the other person in the room.
• He let out a nervous laugh, hoping to cover up his mistake and the awkward silence that followed.

Exercises for Showing Embarrassment

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing embarrassment:

• Write a scene where the character spills something on themselves in front of others.
• Have the character accidentally send a text or email to the wrong person.
• Write a scene where the character realizes they have been talking too loudly and everyone around them can hear.
• Have the character forget someone's name or mistake them for someone else.
• Write a scene where the character is caught in a lie or is exposed for something they were trying to hide.
• Have the character trip or fall in a public place.
• Write a scene where the character is forced to apologize for something they did wrong.
• Have the character receive unexpected attention or praise in a situation where they feel undeserving.
• Write a scene where the character is in a new and unfamiliar environment and feels out of place.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotions list.