embarrass

Meaning

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. (formal, transitive) To perplex mentally; confuse, disconcert; catch off guard.

Synonyms

shame

abash

humiliate

confuse

hinder

obstruct

put to shame

hamper

bewilder

disconcert

puzzle

block

stymie

stymy

humble

worry

weary

😩

blockade

disgrace

trouble

put out

shy

impede

encumber

discomfit

perplex

inconvenience

cross

handicap

frustrate

complicate

thwart

annoy

bother

prevent

trammel

bore

muddle

distress

deter

chagrin

faze

deflect

debar

cumber

bilk

avert

cramp

confound

betray

Translations

imbarazzare

embarrasser

avergonzar

in verlegenheid brengen

embaraçar

στενοχωρώ

beschämen

βάζω σε αμηχανία

ostacolare

أربك

faire honte à

gêner

verwirren

hindern

in Verlegenheit bringen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪmˈbæɹ.əs/

Etymology

Cognate with Latin: in-

In summary

Borrowed from Middle French embarrasser, embarasser (“to embarrass; to block, obstruct”), from Spanish embarazar, from Portuguese embaraçar, from em- (“in”) (from Latin im-) + baraço (“noose, rope”), from Arabic مَرَسَة (marasa, “rope”), ultimately from Akkadian 𒄙 (GUR /⁠markasu⁠/, “rope”).