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embarrassed - 2 dictionary results

em⋅bar⋅rass

  [em-bar-uhs]
Use embarrassed in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash: His bad table manners embarrassed her.
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.
4. to beset with financial difficulties; burden with debt: The decline in sales embarrassed the company.
–verb (used without object)
5. to become disconcerted, abashed, or confused.
Origin:
1665–75; < F embarrasser < Sp embarazar < Pg embaraçar, equiv. to em- em- 1 + -baraçar, v. deriv. of baraço, baraça cord, strap, noose (of obscure orig.)

Related forms:
em⋅bar⋅rassed⋅ly  [em-bar-uhst-lee, -uh-sid-lee] , adverb
em⋅bar⋅rass⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. discompose, discomfit, chagrin. See confuse. 3. hamper, hinder.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To embarrassed
em·bar·rass   (ěm-bār'əs)   
tr.v.   em·bar·rassed, em·bar·rass·ing, em·bar·rass·es
  1. To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease; disconcert: Meeting adults embarrassed the shy child.
  2. To involve in or hamper with financial difficulties.
  3. To hinder with obstacles or difficulties; impede.
  4. To complicate.
  5. To interfere with (a bodily function) or impede the function of (a body part).

[French embarrasser, to encumber, hamper, from Spanish embarazar, from Italian imbarazzare, from imbarazzo, obstacle, obstruction, from imbarrare, to block, bar : in-, in (from Latin; see en-1) + barra, bar (from Vulgar Latin *barra).]
em·bar'rassed·ly adv., em·bar'rass·ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause someone to feel self-conscious and uneasy: were embarrassed by their child's tantrum; felt abashed at the extravagant praise; will be chagrined if my confident prediction fails; was discomfited by the sudden personal question; is disconcerted by sarcastic remarks; refuses to be fazed by your objections; isn't easily rattled before an audience.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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