Second-Hand Embarrassment 

When you cringe while watching people embarrassing/publicly humiliating themselves, especially when they DON'T deserve it. People who suffer from this are generally empaths, or they may suffer from severe social anxiety.

"I tried to tell my friends that Dave couldn't dance, but they forced him to anyway. I got second-hand embarrassment in the worst way while watching him. By the time I pulled him out, his face was the deepest shade of red imaginable, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he was trying not to cry from embarrassment. We haven't been on speaking terms with those "friends" since that incident."

Moral of the story: Don't force people to do things they're not comfortable with, especially under protest. It may be funny to you, but you've gotta think of other people.

Second-Hand Embarrassment by Ubeenbamboozledson August 13, 2021

Second Hand Embarrassment 

When you feel so embarrassed for someone else's actions that you feel the embarrassment for yourself as well.

Stefanie is singing loudly in Portuguese! I feel second hand embarrassment... I can't be in the same room right now.

Second Hand Embarrassment by arisames December 6, 2009

second hand embarrassment 

what i feel when i watch the weird oversexualized daddy povs on tiktok

noah becks tiktoks give me second hand embarrassment

second hand embarrassment by frogtoaster July 17, 2020

Second-Hand Embarassment 

To be embarassed for someone else.

I felt such second-hand embarassment when I saw John asking the most popular girl in school out that I had to look away.

Second-Hand Embarassment by Melodious10 February 16, 2009

Second-hand Embarassment 

The uncomfortable feeling you get from the embarassment that the person whom is embarassing themselves should be feeling, but isnt, perhaps because of being:
a. Mentally unstable
b. Under the influence of a controlled/uncontrolled substance

c. Socially retarded

Dude, I had the worst second-hand embarassment for Dennis the other night. He was singing a Phil Collins song from Tarzan to the bartender.

Second-hand Embarassment by Pheeya August 6, 2010

secondhand embarrassment 

The personal embarrassment that one feels on account of and for another (i.e. a friend, a family member or a complete stranger) who is making a fool of him or herself. A person experiencing secondhand embarrassment feels as if they are doing the embarrassing action themselves, effectively putting themselves in the other person's shoes.

Guy 1: Man, Sarah's presentation today was terrible. She forgot half of it and stumbled through the rest.
Guy 2: Oh I know. I had so much secondhand embarrassment for her. It was like watching a train wreck.

secondhand embarrassment by Casey L. January 7, 2009

Secondhand Embarrassment 

When someone's actions other than your own embarrasses you. Also a common feeling when reading or watching something embarrassing like a show or book.

1. Person 1: Did you see that girl trip today? It was so embarrassing, she dropped everything in her hands.

Person 2: Yeah, I know I couldn't handle watching her scramble around, trying to pick it up. The secondhand embarrassment was real.

2. The Character in the book was so embarrassing , that I couldn't continue reading it, cause I got secondhand embarrassment too much.

Secondhand Embarrassment by Crumpled August 17, 2017