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embarrass

verb
em·​bar·​rass | \ im-ˈber-É™s How to pronounce embarrass (audio) , -ˈba-rÉ™s\
embarrassed; embarrassing; embarrasses

Definition of embarrass

transitive verb

1a : to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress bawdy stories embarrassed him
b : to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties
c : to involve in financial difficulties
2a : to hamper the movement of
b : hinder, impede
3 : to make intricate : complicate
4 : to impair the activity of (a bodily function) or the function of (a bodily part) digestion embarrassed by overeating

intransitive verb

: to become anxiously self-conscious he embarrasses easily
Other Words from embarrass Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Embarrass: Its Spelling and Use Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about embarrass

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Other Words from embarrass

embarrassable \ im-​ˈber-​É™-​sÉ™-​bÉ™l How to pronounce embarrassable (audio) , -​ˈba-​rÉ™-​ \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for embarrass

embarrass, discomfit, abash, disconcert, rattle mean to distress by confusing or confounding. embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action. The question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion. Hecklers discomfited the speaker abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority. abashed by her swift and cutting retort disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy. disconcerted by finding so many in attendance rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment. rattled by all the television cameras

Embarrass: Its Spelling and Use

Are you here because you spelled embarrass wrong? Don't be embarrassed.

Instead, remember that the word embarrass got those embarrassing r's and s's from the French: English embarrass comes from the French word embarrasser.

When used as an active verb, embarrass is most often seen in constructions like "x embarrasses/embarrassed me/them." The word is also very commonly used as a passive verb. In such cases, the preposition by is a frequent companion:

Private companies were embarrassed by being shown to co-operate with the American authorities.
— The Economist, 12 Nov. 2016

Teenagers are always easily embarrassed by their parents.
— Farley Granger, Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway, 2007

In that moment, I know I have begun to assign the termites the powers of volition and desire, the experiences of pain and regret. I am embarrassed by this, and dare not mention it to the scientists.
— Duncan Murrell, Harper's, August 2005

People are also regularly embarrassed about something:

His attorney said he was embarrassed about the incident and didn't want anybody to notice him.
— Richard Martin, The Atlantic Monthly, June 2001

Fiction has no reason to be embarrassed about telling the same story again and again, since we all, with infinite variations, live the same story.
— John Simon, The New Republic, 21 Nov. 1983

Sometimes they're embarrassed (or not) on someone's behalf—that is, they're embarrassed for someone:

Nobody ever felt embarrassed for Yoko Ono.
— Bruno Maddox, Spy, November 1996

They're less commonly embarrassed at something:

She would be deeply embarrassed at my admiration, more so at my naming her in print.
— Nancy Harmon Jenkins, The New York Times Magazine, 4 May 1986

His cogent reasoning made me embarrassed at my own first reaction….
—David Greenberg, The New Republic, 14 Nov. 1994

Occasionally, and by some measures increasingly, people are embarrassed of something, as in "They're embarrassed of the way it happened." This use is not yet common in published, edited text and is considered by some to be a mistake.

Did You Know?

If you've ever been so embarrassed that you felt like you were caught up in a noose of shame you may have some insight into the origins of the word embarrass. The word can be traced back through French and Spanish to the Portuguese word embaraçar, which was itself probably formed as a combination of the prefix em- (from Latin in-) and "baraça," the Portuguese word for "noose." Though "embarrass" has had various meanings throughout its history in English, these days it most often implies making someone feel or look foolish.

Examples of embarrass in a Sentence

Unexpected laughter embarrassed the speaker. She's worried about embarrassing herself in front of such a large audience. I would never do anything to embarrass my family. The protest was staged as a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 One source told the Times that this could shed some light on the reasons behind this effort, positing that the Italian is likely seeking to embarrass the Blues in a public forum. — SI.com, "Antonio Conte Takes Further Legal Action Against Chelsea Despite £9m Compensation," 22 Aug. 2019 Aside from embarrassing each other, the mother-and-son duo has gone through a lot together this past year. — Robyn Merrett, PEOPLE.com, "Selma Blair Jumps Naked into Pool as Payback to Her Son After He Previously Pushed Her In," 22 Aug. 2019 The tandem of Martin Jones and Aaron Dell was borderline embarrassing all regular season. — Garrett Wroblewski/guest Columnist, The Mercury News, "With Pavelski gone, who will lead Sharks into new season and era?," 20 Aug. 2019 The Republican candidate would have seemingly endless financial resources available to try to embarrass Warren and tarnish the Kennedy image, something that could linger even if Kennedy ultimately won. — James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, "Even for a Kennedy, waiting one’s turn may not be a wise idea," 20 Aug. 2019 The Tigers were blasted by the Royals in that 2017 series, swept by a total score of 23-8, embarrassed by right-handed reliever Bruce Rondon again late in a blowout game, and exposed as a team that was strong only on paper. — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Kansas City Royals are ahead of Detroit Tigers in rebuild phase, too," 11 Aug. 2019 In a week that Shane Lowry won the British Open at Portrush and Ireland's cricketers embarrassed England at Lord's, Adare Manor was chosen as the venue for one of golf's biggest showpiece events. — James Masters, CNN, "Ryder Cup: Adare Manor to host 2026 tournament," 25 July 2019 But the event seemed to anger and embarrass long-time islanders. — Susan Glaser, cleveland.com, "Put-in-Bay discouraging ‘Christmas in July’ celebration, but bracing for crowds anyway," 23 July 2019 This Southern City Has the Worst Mosquito Problem in the Country Protection from bugs and the opportunity to embarrass your children? — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "This Foldable Canopy Chair with Bug Netting Just Changed Summertime Sitting for Good," 9 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'embarrass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of embarrass

1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

History and Etymology for embarrass

French embarrasser, from Spanish embarazar, from Portuguese embaraçar, from em- (from Latin in-) + baraça noose

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More Definitions for embarrass

embarrass

verb
How to pronounce embarrass (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of embarrass

: to make (someone) feel confused and foolish in front of other people
: to make (a person, group, government, etc.) look foolish in public

See the full definition for embarrass in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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