embarrass

[ em-bar-uhs ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash:

   His bad table manners embarrassed her.

   Synonyms: chagrin, discomfit, discompose

2. to make difficult or intricate, as a question or problem; complicate.
3. to put obstacles or difficulties in the way of; impede:

   The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.

   Synonyms: hinder, hamper

4. to beset with financial difficulties; burden with debt:

   The decline in sales embarrassed the company.

verb (used without object)

1. to become disconcerted, abashed, or confused.

embarrass

/ ɪmˈbærəs /

verb

1. also intr to feel or cause to feel confusion or self-consciousness; disconcert; fluster
2. usually passive to involve in financial difficulties
3. archaic.
   to make difficult; complicate
4. archaic.
   to impede; obstruct; hamper

Derived Forms

• emˈbarrassedly, adverb
• emˈbarrassed, adjective

Other Words From

• em·bar·rassed·ly [em-, bar, -, uh, st-lee, -, uh, -sid-lee], adverb
• em·barrass·ing·ly adverb
• preem·barrass verb (used with object)
• unem·barrassed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embarrass¹

1665–75; < French embarrasser < Spanish embarazar < Portuguese embaraçar, equivalent to em- em- ¹ + -baraçar, verbal derivative of baraço, baraça cord, strap, noose (of obscure origin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of embarrass¹

C17: (in the sense: to impede): via French and Spanish from Italian imbarrazzare, from imbarrare to confine within bars; see en- ¹, bar ¹

Synonym Study

See confuse.

Related Words

• agitate
• annoy
• bewilder
• bother
• confuse
• disconcert
• distract
• disturb
• dumbfound
• faze
• fluster
• irk
• mortify
• perplex
• perturb
• plague
• puzzle
• rattle
• shame
• stun