Embarrass

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪmˈbæ.ɹəs/
• mary-merry-marry merged IPA: /ɪmˈbe.ɹəs/
• Rhymes: -ærÉ™s

Origin

Borrowing from fr embarrasser, from Spanish embarazar, either

• from Portuguese embaraçar, from em- ("in") (from Latin im-) + baraça ("noose, rope"), or
• from Italian imbarazzare, from imbarazzo ("obstacle, obstruction"), from imbarrare ("to block, bar"), from im- ("in") + barra ("bar"), from Vulgar Latin barra, of unknown origin.

Full definition of embarrass

Verb

1. (transitive) to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to disconcert; to abashThe crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him.
2. (transitive) To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.Business is embarrassed; public affairs are embarrassed.
3. (transitive) To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.A man or his business is embarrassed when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements.

Synonyms

• (humiliate) abash, discomfit, disconcert, humiliate, shame

Derived terms

• embarrassment