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

Other Word Forms

• embarrassedly adverb
• embarrassingly adverb
• preembarrass verb (used with object)
• unembarrassed adjective
• embarrassed 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.

Example Sentences

Lecornu has arguably gone down in even more embarrassing circumstances than his two ill-fated predecessors.

From BBC

"I was so embarrassed, I spent most of my time trying to hide it."

From BBC

"So as usual they feel embarrassed, they think they should do something and they react and they say 1 million shillings reward. Absolutely useless," the activist said.

From BBC

The Dodgers shouldn’t be here battling baseball’s junior varsity, and they know it, and they’re intent on pounding and pitching their way out of this embarrassing situation as quickly as possible.

From Los Angeles Times

And don’t forget those people passing by in embarrassed silence and everyone like them across the country and their friends and relatives, all refusing to go along until their demands are addressed.

From Salon

Related Words

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