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View synonyms for

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: , ,

  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: ,

  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

/ ɪˈæə /

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
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, adverb
  • ˈ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ··· [em-, bar, -, uh, st-lee, -, uh, -sid-lee], adverb
  • ·۲·Բ· adverb
  • e·۲ verb (used with object)
  • ܲe·۲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of embarrass1

1665–75; < French embarrasser < Spanish embarazar < Portuguese 𳾲ç, equivalent to em- em- 1 + -ç, verbal derivative of baraço, baraça cord, strap, noose (of obscure origin)
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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
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Synonym Study

See confuse.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He said others had been rejected "because they just said things that were just ridiculous, outrageous, embarrassing".

From

Singing “Hot for Teacher” now, at 77 years old — I’m sorry, it’s embarrassing.

From

For decades, Charles has simply kept not being embarrassed or emotional about anything and doing the passion projects he cares about, even when he had a 4% public approval rating.

From

Tesla drivers who were once drawn to the environmental benefits of electric vehicles are growing embarrassed by their cars’ association with Musk, The Times has reported.

From

When that happened to me as a teenager, I didn’t talk about it because it was embarrassing and I had shame about it.

From

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embarras de richessesˈԲ