embarrass

[ em-bar-uhs ]

/ ɛmˈbær əs /

SEE 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.

Words nearby embarrass

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)

SYNONYMS FOR embarrass

1 discompose, discomfit, chagrin.

3 hamper, hinder.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR embarrass ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM embarrass

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 for embarrass

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. 2020

Examples from the Web for embarrass

After almost five months without a solution, the lack of initiative is starting to embarrass the Lebanese government.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mass dump suggests that whoever did this, their primary motivation was to embarrass Sony Pictures.
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony|Marc Rogers|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The final question we should ask: are they pursuing justice and the rule of law, or merely silencing those who embarrass them?
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous”|Kevin M. Gallagher|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much of the praise of Pence is in this vein—he will not embarrass us.
Mike Pence, Dark Horse in Training for 2016|David Freedlander|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Nothing to see, just Republican witch hunts designed to embarrass the president and perhaps land blows against Hillary Clinton.
The Scandal at the VA Is Real, and Obama Is Ducking It|Ron Christie|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Elbert, you embarrass me," she replied, trying to laugh it out.
The Call of the Canyon|Zane Grey
Do not let me embarrass your judgment; my duty just now is merely to tell you what did happen.
My Friend Smith|Talbot Baines Reed
And now, Belford, according to my new system, I think this house of Mrs. Fretchville an embarrass upon me.
Clarissa, Volume 4 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson
His ill-wishers had tried to embarrass him and make him break down.
The Earl of Beaconsfield|James Anthony Froude
The name and circumstance of Phidias, however convenient for history, embarrass when we come to the highest criticism.
Essays, First Series|Ralph Waldo Emerson

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 of embarrass

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

embarrass

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Words related to embarrass

Words nearby embarrass

Origin of embarrass

SYNONYMS FOR embarrass

OTHER WORDS FROM embarrass

synonym study for embarrass

Definition for embarrass (2 of 2)

or Em·barrass

noun

Examples from the Web for embarrass

British Dictionary definitions for embarrass

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of embarrass

Word Origin for embarrass