Main Entry: em·bar·rass

Pronunciation: \im-ˈber-əs, -ˈba-rəs\

Function: verb

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

Date: 1672

transitive verb 1 a : to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties b : to involve in financial difficulties c : to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress <bawdy stories embarrassed him>
2 a : 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>

— em·bar·rass·able \-ə-sə-bəl\ adjective

synonyms embarrass, discomfit, abash, disconcert, rattle mean to distress by confusing or confounding. embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action <embarrassed to admit that she liked the movie>. 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>.