embarrass

(ĕm-băr'əs)
tr.v., -rassed, -rass·ing, -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).]

embarrassedly em·bar'rassed·ly adv.
embarrassingly em·bar'rass·ing·ly adv.

SYNONYMS   embarrass, abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, faze, rattle. 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.

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verb

1. To cause (a person) to be self-consciously distressed: abash, chagrin, confound, confuse, discomfit, discomfort, disconcert, discountenance, faze, mortify. Idioms: put on the spot, throw for a loop. See pain/pleasure.
2. To make complex, intricate, or perplexing: complicate, entangle, involve, perplex, ravel, snarl², tangle. See simple/complex.

v

Definition: cause mental discomfort
Antonyms: comfort, gladden, help, please

IN BRIEF: To make feel uncomfortable or self-conscious.

A sudden case of stage fright rendered Madeline too shy and embarrassed to perform her piano recital.

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sign description: The open 5 hands brush up against the face with palms facing in.

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To impede the function of; to obstruct.

For a list of words related to embarrass, see:

• Strategy and Tactics - embarrass: (vb) involve in public shame or difficulty; place in doubt; impede by obstacles or difficulties
• Disapproval, Disrespect, and Denial - embarrass: (vb) place in state of confusion or self-conscious discomfort

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See words rhyming with "embarrass."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Embarrass.

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Common misspelling(s) of embarrass

• embarass
• embarras

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - gøre flov, sætte i forlegenhed, bringe i økonomiske vanskeligheder, tynge, belaste, gøre indviklet, forvirre

Nederlands (Dutch)
in onzekerheid brengen, in geldproblemen brengen, in verlegenheid brengen, hinderen, belasten, compliceren, aantasten (van een lichaamsfunctie)

Français (French)
v. tr. - gêner, embarrasser

Deutsch (German)
v. - in Verlegenheit bringen, behindern

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - φέρνω σε δύσκολη θέση ή αμηχανία, στενοχωρώ, παρεμποδίζω

Italiano (Italian)
imbarazzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - constranger

Русский (Russian)
смущать, стеснять, мешать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - confundir, poner en un aprieto, avergonzar, desconcertar, turbar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - förvirra, göra förlägen

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使困窘, 阻碍, 使局促不安

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 使困窘, 阻礙, 使局促不安

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 난처하게 하다, 당황하게 하다, 방해하다, 복잡하게 만들다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - まごつかせる, 邪魔する, こじらせる, 財政困難にする, 妨げる, 当惑させる, 困らせる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يربك, يحرج‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הביך, הדאיג, הטריד, עיכב, הכביד‬

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