embarrass
[ em-bar-uhs ]
/ ɛmˈbær əs /
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.
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
synonym study for embarrass
1. See
confuse.
OTHER WORDS FROM embarrass
em·bar·rassed·ly [em-bar-uhst-lee, -uh-sid-lee] /ɛmˈbær əst li, -ə sɪd li/, adverb em·bar·rass·ing·ly, adverb pre·em·bar·rass, verb (used with object) un·em·bar·rassed, adjectiveWords nearby embarrass
Example sentences from the Web for embarrassing
British Dictionary definitions for embarrassing (1 of 2)
embarrassing
/ (ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ) /
adjective
causing one to feel confusion or self-consciousness; disconcerting
Derived forms of embarrassing
embarrassingly, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for embarrassing (2 of 2)
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, adjective embarrassedly, adverbWord 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