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embarrass Definition

em·bar·rass (em bar′əs, im-)

transitive verb

  1. to cause to feel self-conscious, confused, and ill at ease; disconcert; fluster
  2. to cause difficulties to; hinder; impede
  3. to cause to be in debt; cause financial difficulties to
  4. to make more difficult; complicate

Etymology: Fr embarrasser, lit., to encumber, obstruct < Sp embarazar < It imbarrazzare < imbarrare, to bar, impede < in- (L in-) + ML barra, bar

embarrass Related Forms
em·bar′·rass·ing adjective em·bar′·rass·ingly adverb em·bar′·rass·ment noun
embarrass Synonyms

embarrass

v.

  1. To upset mentally

    disconcert, fluster, abash, chagrin, discompose, discomfit, confuse, discomfort, upset, rattle, agitate, distress, disturb, faze, bewilder, nonplus, confound, bother, perplex, puzzle, vex, worry, trouble, distract, perturb, flurry, mortify, discountenance, dumbfound, shame, humiliate, make blush, put in a hole*, put on the spot*, put to the blush*, discombobulate*, make a monkey of*, put out of countenance*, put out of face*.

    Antonyms compose, encourage*, assure.

  2. To hinder

    keep back, obstruct, hamper; see hinder.

to embarrass is to cause to feel ill at ease so as to result in a loss of composure embarrassed by their compliments; abash implies a sudden loss of self-confidence and a growing feeling of shame or inadequacy I stood abashed at his rebukes; discomfit implies a frustration of plans or expectations and often connotes a resultant feeling of discomposure or humiliation; to disconcert is to cause someone to lose self-possession quickly, resulting in confusion or mental disorganization his interruptions were disconcerting; rattle and faze are less formal equivalents for disconcert, but the former emphasizes emotional agitation, and the latter is most commonly used in negative constructions danger does not faze him

embarrass Usage Examples

Object

  • bit: Should we be a bit embarrassed by the word ' hymn ' ?
  • government: They can ignore Tory attempts to embarrass the Government.
  • anyone: Also try not to embarrass anyone, especially your bride.
  • someone: They would be so embarrassed that someone saw them fall that they would not try again.
  • company: He also sent out e-mail to customer's on the company ' e-mailing lists with the intention of embarrassing the company.
  • people: I'm not one to let things like that slide, but I'm also very reluctant to embarrass people.

Used with why or when

  • when: I was so embarrassed when... I made my musical debut on the piano in school at the age of ten.

Infinitive complement

  • admit: GUILTY PLEASURES Everyone's got movies they're embarrassed to admit to loving - here are ours!
  • ask: Are you too embarrassed to ask for help in using the internet?
  • tell: For some reason I was too embarrassed to tell her the truth.
  • talk: Kate has stated, " Guys are embarrassed to talk to me I think, or maybe they're scared of me.
  • say: Summary I am embarrassed to say I am quite new to the peace movement.
  • seek: It's not like we were embarrassed to seek help.

Modifying Another Word

  • acutely: A ' show trial ' followed, with BRE Personnel Officers being acutely embarrassed by the roles they were forced to play.
  • severely: Despite being severely embarrassed he insisted on still wearing his weight belt for the rest of the journey.
  • deeply: Among those hoping for a higher bid is a government deeply embarrassed by the deal.
  • too: Are you too embarrassed to ask for help in using the internet?
  • slightly: That is, a group of people presented interesting stories about Linus, intended to only slightly embarrass him.
  • somewhat: Kate winced, somewhat embarrassed to realize how thoroughly she could be swept off her feet by a dazzling façade.

Preposition: in

  • front: You have never seen a guy so big look so embarrassed in front of someone so small!
embarrass Quotes

Asked by the chairmantheusual question: 'Iunderstand, Mr Strachey, that you have a conscientious objection to war?' hereplied (inhis curiousfalsettovoice),'Ohno, not at all, only to this war.'Better thanthiswashisreply tothe chairman's other stock question, which had previously never failed to embarrass the claimant.'Tell me, Mr Strachey, what would youdoif yousawa Germansoldier trying to violate your sister?' With an air of noble virtue: 'I would try to get between them.'

—Strachey, (Giles) Lytton

I have never, ever knowingly taken illegal drugs, and I Johnson would never embarrass my family, my friends, my country, and the kids who love me.

—Johnson, Ben

Browse dictionary entries near embarrass

  1. ‹ embarras de richesses
  2. ‹ embark
  3. ‹ embargo
  4. ‹ embarcadero
  5. ‹ embankment
  6. ‹ embank
  7. ‹ embalm
  8. ‹ emasculation
  9. ‹ emasculate
  10. ‹ emarginate
  1. embarrassed ›
  2. embarrassing ›
  3. embarrassment ›
  4. embassage ›
  5. embassy ›
  6. embattle ›
  7. embattled ›
  8. embay ›
  9. embayment ›
  10. embed ›