definitions

embarrass

[ em-bar-uhs ]
/ ɛmˈbær əs /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embarrass ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash: His bad table manners embarrassed her.
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)

to become disconcerted, abashed, or confused.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

embark, embarkation, embarkment, embarras, embarras de richesses, embarrass, embarrassing, embarrassment, embarrassment of riches, embassador, embassage

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)

Related forms

em·bar·rassed·ly [em-bar-uhst-lee, -uh-sid-lee] /ɛmˈbær əst li, -ə sɪd li/, adverbem·bar·rass·ing·ly, adverbpre·em·bar·rass, verb (used with object)un·em·bar·rassed, adjective

Synonym study

1. See confuse.

Definition for embarrass (2 of 2)

Embarras

or Em·barrass

[ am-braw ]
/ ˈæm brɔ /

noun

a river in E Illinois, flowing S and SE to the Wabash River. 185 miles (298 km) long.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for embarrass

British Dictionary definitions for embarrass

embarrass

/ (ɪmˈbærəs) /

verb (mainly tr)

(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

Derived Forms

embarrassed, adjectiveembarrassedly, adverb

Word Origin for embarrass

C17: (in the sense: to impede): via French and Spanish from Italian imbarrazzare, from imbarrare to confine within bars; see en- 1, bar 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012