embarrassing
Use Embarrassing in a sentence
əs 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.
00:10
Embarrassing
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Origin:
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)
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)
Related forms
em·bar·rass·ing·ly, adverb
pre·em·bar·rass, verb (used with object)
un·em·bar·rassed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To embarrassing
Collins
World English Dictionary
embarrass (ɪmˈbærəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 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 |
| [C17: (in the sense: to impede): via French and Spanish from Italian imbarrazzare, from imbarrare to confine within bars; see | |
| em'barrassed | |
| —adj | |
| em'barrassedly | |
| —adv | |
| embarrassing (ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ) | |
| —adj | |
| causing one to feel confusion or self-consciousness; disconcerting | |
| embarrassingly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
embarrass
1670s, "perplex, throw into doubt," from Fr. embarrasser, lit. "to block," from embarras "obstacle," from It. imbarrazzo, from imbarrare "to bar," from in- "into, upon" + V.L. *barra "bar." Meaning "make (someone) feel awkward" first recorded 1828. Original sense preserved in embarras de richesse (1751),
from French (1726), the condition of having more wealth than one knows what to do with. Related: Embarrassing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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