embarrass
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash.
His bad table manners embarrassed her.
- Synonyms:
- chagrin, discomfit, discompose
-
to make difficult or intricate, as a question or problem; complicate.
-
to put obstacles or difficulties in the way of; impede.
The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.
-
to beset with financial difficulties; burden with debt.
The decline in sales embarrassed the company.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
(also intr) to feel or cause to feel confusion or self-consciousness; disconcert; fluster
-
(usually passive) to involve in financial difficulties
-
archaic to make difficult; complicate
-
archaic to impede; obstruct; hamper
Related Words
See confuse.
Other Word Forms
- embarrassed adjective
- embarrassedly adverb
- embarrassingly adverb
- preembarrass verb (used with object)
- unembarrassed adjective
Etymology
Origin of embarrass
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)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it was still "embarrassing," she added - especially when she forgets some specific policy terms in her area of expertise.
From BBC
Natalie pulled Javari’s hoodie over her head and drew her knees up to her chin, embarrassed to be crying in front of a stranger.
From Literature
There was a low, embarrassed rumbling of “Yes, Principal Wombat” through the students, which was good enough for her.
From Literature
Some of my friends complain about being small but when I ask if they’d like to look like me they grow pale and quiet, embarrassed.
From Salon
"When I set up the presentation there were the three traditional trophies and then there was this sad wee diddy-looking trophy and I was quite embarrassed," he admitted.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
