1

I have scoured every thesaurus I can find but cannot seem to find a (single) word that I can use to replace 'embarrasing' to signify the opposite of embarrassing (as opposed to the lack of embarrassment).

i.e. "he's embarrassing" becomes "he's (the opposite of embarrassing)" as in "he is something (that makes me feel proud)".

For comparison, the opposite of 'it's cold!' would be 'it's hot!'.

"It's not cold" (or "he's not embarrassing") describes a lack of coldness that could mean it's hot, but doesn't really imply it's hot, per se.. as a stand alone statement, it suggests the temperate midpoint between hot and cold.

Improve this question
8
  • Of course, there will be some reason why unembarrassing won't do. Won't there?
    – High Performance Mark
    Commented Jun 27 at 6:48
  • 1
    Haha, there is, of course, a reason - 'unembarrassing' isn't the opposite of embarrassing - it suggests neutrality. The idea is for the word to evoke that feeling of pride at the opposite end of the embarrassing spectrum.
    – sara
    Commented Jun 27 at 14:47
  • What does "he's embarassing" mean? A person can be embarassed, and a situation that causes someone to be embarassed can be embarassing (e.g. a wardrobe malfunction). But what does it mean for a person to be embarassing? It's hard to come up with an opposite when the word itself doesn't really make sense.
    – Barmar
    Commented Jun 27 at 15:57
  • @Barmar Someone or something that is embarrassing causes embarrassment. "He's embarrassing" would likely be used in a context where he is causing the speaker or himself embarrassment, or has a proclivity to do so. If your coworker gets drunk at a work event and tells off-color jokes, you might say his conduct, or he himself, is embarrassing - he might be embarrassing himself, or be embarrassing his boss, or simply be embarrassing in general. I see no issue at all with saying a person is embarrassing.
    – Nuclear Hoagie
    Commented Jun 27 at 16:36
  • @NuclearHoagie I think we would say "He's an embarassment" or "He's embarassing himself".
    – Barmar
    Commented Jun 27 at 16:38

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
3

I don't really understand the obsessive (in these parts) search for single words to express complex concepts and I don't think there is anything wrong with what OP has already (nearly) written. Perhaps

It fills me with pride to show him off at family get togethers.

as the opposite of

It embarrasses me dreadfully to have him accompany me to family get togethers.

Improve this answer
1
  • +1 for the thing about single word request and opposites.
    – Lambie
    Commented Jun 28 at 16:23
0

‘Embarrassing’ is a concept that allows negation, but in my opinion (and the entries in the Thesaurus used by the OP) does not have an opposite, and indeed the OP has not described any emotional state which she considers to be its opposite.

NB. The question is not “is there a state that one might consider the opposite to ‘embarrassing’” (which would in any case not be a question about the language).

Coda
This answer may be regarded by some as unsatisfactory because it is unsubstantiated. Admittedly it is impossible to prove something does not exist. However there are so many questions of this sort that I think it worth making the point that although ‘cold’ has an opposite, ‘turquoise’ does not. Likewise “embarrassing”.

Improve this answer
-1

Since embarrassing (adj.) means

Causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress
M-W

reassuring (adj.), which means

restoring or intended to restore confidence : reducing or eliminating worry or uncertainty
M-W

may come close to expressing the opposite. For example, if you are self-conscious about a new article of clothing you are wearing to the point of beginning to feel some embarrassment, that embarrassment might vanish after being reassured by receiving one or two compliments on it.

"I really feel bad," I admit, "That was so embarrassing."
Dylan shakes his head and leans closer, reassuring me.
"It was an accident and it didn't even hit me," he says, "There's no reason for guilt." Christine Soltis; Thirty (2011)

Harré (1990) argues that embarrassment functions as a largely non-verbal, social signal that is sent by the transgressor and received automatically by a recipient audience. Behaviours, such as blushing, eye gaze directed at the floor and fidgeting, indicate to the audience that the transgressor is aware of his or her 'error', which allows the audience the option of ignoring the error or providing reassurance that all is well.
Graham Russell; Essential Psychology for Nurses and Other Health Professionals (2002)

Improve this answer
2
  • In the same vein, you may say "Dylan shakes his head and leans closer, comforting me". If you comfort someone, you make them feel less worried, unhappy, or upset, for example by saying kind things to them..
    – Graffito
    Commented Jun 27 at 18:51
  • @Graffito You can add it as an answer.
    – DjinTonic
    Commented Jun 27 at 20:14
-1

He is embarrassing because he makes me feel some or even all of the following

  • uncomfortable, awkward, self-conscious, ashamed, mortified, humiliated, crushed

If, on the other hand, he makes me feel comfortable, relaxed, confident, and proud then he is

  • heartening, bolstering, buoying, inspiring, encouraging, cheering, and confidence boosting

Depending on the precise context, perhaps the single word that most answers the OP is hearten -

  • to make more cheerful or confident
Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .