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embarrass

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
em·bar·rass  (m-brs)
tr.v. em·bar·rassed, em·bar·rass·ing, em·bar·rass·es
1. To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease; disconcert: Meeting adults embarrassed the shy child.
2. To involve in or hamper with financial difficulties.
3. To hinder with obstacles or difficulties; impede.
4. To complicate.
5. To interfere with (a bodily function) or impede the function of (a body part).

[French embarrasser, to encumber, hamper, from Spanish embarazar, from Italian imbarazzare, from imbarazzo, obstacle, obstruction, from imbarrare, to block, bar : in-, in (from Latin; see en-1) + barra, bar (from Vulgar Latin *barra).]

em·barrassed·ly adv.
em·barrass·ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: embarrass, abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, faze, rattle1
These verbs mean to cause someone to feel self-conscious and uneasy: were embarrassed by their child's tantrum; felt abashed at the extravagant praise; will be chagrined if my confident prediction fails; was discomfited by the sudden personal question; is disconcerted by sarcastic remarks; refuses to be fazed by your objections; isn't easily rattled before an audience.

embarrass
Verb
1. to make (someone) feel shy, ashamed, or guilty about something
2. to cause political problems for (a government or party)
3. to cause to have financial difficulties [Italian imbarrare to confine within bars]
embarrassed adj
embarrassing adj
embarrassingly adv
embarrassment n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.embarrassembarrass - cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
discomfit, discompose, untune, upset, disconcert - cause to lose one's composure
disconcert, flurry, confuse, put off - cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her"
2.embarrass - hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn"
stonewall - obstruct or hinder any discussion; "Nixon stonewalled the Watergate investigation"; "When she doesn't like to face a problem, she simply stonewalls"
foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, forbid - keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"
filibuster - obstruct deliberately by delaying
check - block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey
hang - prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury
bottleneck - slow down or impede by creating an obstruction; "His laziness has bottlenecked our efforts to reform the system"

embarrass
verb shame, distress, show up (informal) humiliate, disconcert, chagrin, fluster, mortify, faze, discomfit, make uncomfortable, make awkward, discountenance, nonplus, abash, discompose, make ashamed, put out of countenance
Translations
Spanish embarrass [ɪmˈbærəs] vtavergonzar, dar vergüenza a;
(financially etc) → poner en un aprieto

French embarrass [ɪmˈbærəs] vtembarrasser, gêner
German embarrass [ɪmˈbærəs] vtin Verlegenheit bringen
Italian embarrass [ɪmˈbærəs] vtimbarazzare;
to be embarrassed → essere imbarazzato/a

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But its real operation is to embarrass the administration, to destroy the energy of the government, and to substitute the pleasure, caprice, or artifices of an insignificant, turbulent, or corrupt junto, to the regular deliberations and decisions of a respectable majority.
John Hay, who did not know me except as a young Westerner who had written poems in the Atlantic Monthly, asked me how I would like Venice, and promised that they would have the salary put up to a thousand a year, under the new law to embarrass privateers.
"My curiosity shall never embarrass you again," she answered warmly.
 
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