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

Derived Forms

• emˈbarrassedly, adverb
• emˈbarrassed, adjective

Other Words From

• em·bar·rassed·ly [em-, bar, -, uh, st-lee, -, uh, -sid-lee], adverb
• em·barrass·ing·ly adverb
• preem·barrass verb (used with object)
• unem·barrassed 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

He urged fellow collectors to be proud of their hobby, never embarrassed.

From BBC

The group who videotaped the scene, embarrassed, laugh at the situation, expressing relief that they are not identified in the video.

From Los Angeles Times

So some of it, as any creative person, it’s like, “What can I talk about that is embarrassing or is revealing?”

From Los Angeles Times

The dependence on foreign donors to make mpox vaccine purchases and cover liability is embarrassing to another person deeply involved with the mpox response, who asked not to be named.

From Science Magazine

This is the full disclosure, and it's embarrassing to say, but I was such a broke theater actor in New York that I didn't have cable.

From Salon

Related Words

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