Embarrass

/ɪmˈbæɹəs/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to abash..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to abash.
2. (transitive) To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.
3. (transitive) To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.
4. (transitive, formal) To perplex mentally; confuse, disconcert; catch off guard.

Example Sentences

The crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him.

The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.

This will... be the principal part of education; and this alone will effectively dispel that theological philosophy, which, in its decline, is still powerful enough to embarrass the course both of intellectual and social progress.

If they [registers] act It all, it must be by opposing their flat surfaces to the current of rising smoke in a manner which cannot fail to embarrass and impede its motion..

In the case at bar, there is very little beyond bare assertions and bald statements against the unidentified and unspecified Defendant(s). The claim is vexatious in that the Defendant, if identifiable, is left both embarrassed and unable to defend itself. The Court is left with a proceeding so ill-defined that it is unable to discern an argument, or identify any specific material facts.

A man or his business is embarrassed when he cannot meet his pecuniary engagements.

Synonyms for embarrass

Antonyms for embarrass

Related Words

Word Forms

• embarrasses
• embarrassing
• embarrassed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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