Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense embarrasses, present participle embarrassing, past tense, past participle embarrassed
1. verb
If something or someone embarrasses you, they make you feel shy or ashamed.
His clumsiness embarrassed him. [VERB noun]
It embarrassed him that he had no idea of what was going on. [VERB noun that]
2. verb
If something embarrasses a public figure such as a politician or an organization such as a political party, it causes problems for them.
...an attempt to find out who had leaked information that embarrassed the president. [VERB noun]
The Government has been embarrassed by the affair. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of embarrass
embarrass in British English
(ɪmˈbærəs)
verb(mainly tr)
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
Derived forms
embarrassed (emˈbarrassed)
adjective
embarrassedly (emˈbarrassedly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: (in the sense: to impede): via French and Spanish from Italian imbarrazzare, from imbarrare to confine within bars; see en-1, bar1
embarrass in American English
(ɛmˈbærəs; ɪmˈbærəs)
verb transitive
1.
to cause to feel self-conscious, confused, and ill at ease; disconcert; fluster
2.
to cause difficulties to; hinder; impede
3.
to cause to be in debt; cause financial difficulties to
4.
to make more difficult; complicate
SYNONYMY NOTE: to embarrass is to cause to feel ill at ease so as to result in a loss of composure [embarrassed by their compliments]; abash implies a sudden loss of self-confidence and a growing feeling of shame or inadequacy[I stood abashed at his rebukes]; discomfit implies a frustration of plans or expectations and often connotes a resultant feelingof discomposure or humiliation; to , disconcert is to cause someone to lose self-possession quickly, resulting in confusion or mentaldisorganization [his interruptions were disconcerting]; rattle1, faze are equivalents for , disconcert, but the former emphasizes emotional agitation, and the latter is most commonly usedin negative constructions [danger does not faze him]
OPPOSITES: compose, assure
Derived forms
embarrassing (emˈbarrassing)
adjective
embarrassingly (emˈbarrassingly)
adverb
embarrassment (emˈbarrassment)
noun
Word origin
Fr embarrasser, lit., to encumber, obstruct < Sp embarazar < It imbarrazzare < imbarrare, to bar, impede < in- (L in-) + ML barra, bar1
Examples of 'embarrass' in a sentence
embarrass
But dads are supposed to be a bit embarrassing.
The Sun (2016)
I had to make the most embarrassing call to the ambulance service at 7am.
The Sun (2016)
It's a bit embarrassing really, supposedly being a creative person and yet having no feel for either music or painting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I went to the kitchen to make myself some supper.
The Sun (2016)
He drinks too much at dinner and makes an embarrassing comment in their company.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Then direct his conversation over lunch to something that might embarrass him if he said it publicly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But you are a little bit embarrassed.
The Sun (2011)
Send something embarrassing you want to pull back?
Christianity Today (2000)
All this fuss has been a bit embarrassing.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Is he covering up something more embarrassing or just plain silly?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But do you want to know something really embarrassing?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is something uniquely embarrassing about turning up at a wedding in the same outfit as another guest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To admit belief would be to embarrass the dinner party and evoke pity and sad shakes of the head.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This could be a bit embarrassing!
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In view of that betrayal, was it too embarrassing to make a fuss on his behalf?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But it does make it very embarrassing when you discover you're not good at things.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He nods, just a little bit embarrassed.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The music and the lights went down halfway through the show, so it was a bit embarrassing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I find it a bit embarrassing talking about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The protesters in the square have targeted the grand prix as an opportunity to embarrass the Government if their demands are not met.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I don't really like to compare myself to him because it makes me embarrassed.
The Sun (2011)
That's deeply embarrassing for a party that used to pride itself on its performances in by-elections.
The Sun (2012)
Better, surely, that your parents simply embarrass you than make you want to throw up?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
During the 2001 general election he embarrassed his party by claiming it would cut taxes by 20 billion.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
embarrass
British English: embarrass VERB
If something or someone embarrasses you, they make you feel shy or ashamed.