51Թ

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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 51Թ 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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51Թ 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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51Թ 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.

"It pains us to even say that is the case. It's not somewhere we expected to be and it's embarrassing - we're not going to shy away from that."

From

She said: "I was mortified, I was embarrassed, I started crying. But he was really supportive and kind."

From

In the car, Ramona wanted the woman’s intervention; in the voting booth, an embarrassing number of American voters wanted Trump to shake up our standards and violate our norms.

From

But Joyce-Butchers' participation sparked backlash on social media after Wales had just lost by 55 points to their arch-rivals on home turf, with some calling it embarrassing and questioning the player's professionalism.

From

"We all know there's a stigma around using things like food banks, but then you see the benefit, and now I don't feel embarrassed, it's a brilliant thing."

From

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