embarrass
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.
to become disconcerted, abashed, or confused.
Origin of embarrass
1synonym study For embarrass
Other words for embarrass
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, adjective
Words Nearby embarrass
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use embarrass in a sentence
He’s still working out his identity as a writer, and thus far that identity has been well-intentioned celeb turned author who hasn’t embarrassed himself.
David Duchovny wants to be taken seriously as a novelist. His new book makes a good case. | Mark Athitakis | February 1, 2021 | Washington PostI made a good living and I’m embarrassed to say that I never really loved it, but now, let’s backtrack.
Danica Patrick on Why She Never Loved Racing and Her Post-Track Career | Joshua Eferighe | January 30, 2021 | OzyMiss Manners has always disliked the public ranking of donors, apparently intended to embarrass the smaller ones into buying their way into a higher category.
Miss Manners: Skip the ‘You’re welcome’ email | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | January 19, 2021 | Washington PostThese elite schools should be embarrassed by their graduates who have committed sedition and they must take action in response if they are to save their reputations.
Harvard, Stanford, Yale: Denounce sedition of your graduates | Peter Rosenstein | January 14, 2021 | Washington BladeThis revelation embarrassed Democratic members of the committee.
Ted Cruz’s proposed election commission can only hurt the country | Stuart MacKay | January 6, 2021 | Washington Post
After almost five months without a solution, the lack of initiative is starting to embarrass the Lebanese government.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda | Ruth Michaelson | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe mass dump suggests that whoever did this, their primary motivation was to embarrass Sony Pictures.
The final question we should ask: are they pursuing justice and the rule of law, or merely silencing those who embarrass them?
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous” | Kevin M. Gallagher | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMuch of the praise of Pence is in this vein—he will not embarrass us.
Nothing to see, just Republican witch hunts designed to embarrass the president and perhaps land blows against Hillary Clinton.
The Scandal at the VA Is Real, and Obama Is Ducking It | Ron Christie | May 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMinisters deprecated the motion as tending to embarrass the administration, and defeat the very end for which it was proposed.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. NolanAs we approached Pomeroy the militia began to embarrass our march by felling trees and erecting barricades across the roads.
Jane, the elder sister, was the more dignified and it was therefore easier to embarrass her.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor | Helen Leah ReedThe first questions must never perplex or embarrass the pupil, for they are very important.
The Sabbath-School Index | Richard Gay PardeeNot being hot at his preaching there was less enthusiasm about him now, and the presence of the grinder seemed to embarrass him.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Thomas Hardy
British Dictionary definitions for embarrass
/ (ɪmˈbærəs) /
(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
Origin of embarrass
1Derived forms of embarrass
- embarrassed, adjective
- embarrassedly, adverb
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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