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

This has enabled an overwhelming stream of innocuous cat soap operas, but the technology can just as easily be used to make embarrassing videos of political opponents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her failure to apply for a selective licence before renting out her family home is at the very least embarrassing.

Read more on BBC

After his embarrassing defeat in the Democratic primary, Cuomo was eager to refashion himself as an underdog independent candidate.

Read more on Salon

Corruption investigations targeting former Socialist heavyweights and Sanchez's wife have embarrassed Sanchez, who took office in 2018 pledging to clean up Spanish politics after the conservative opposition was convicted in its own graft scandal.

Read more on Barron's

The theft has left France badly embarrassed over how the thieves exploited security weaknesses at the world’s most visited museum.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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