1
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
the modest young soldiers were embarrassed by the public praise for their heroism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of embarrass
Republicans in Washington are empowered—and eager—to investigate, embarrass, and punish the higher-education field.
—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Football was refereed differently all those years ago, but watch the entire 90 minutes here and the physical treatment handed out to Maradona should embarrass even the most partisan Englishman.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Still, Mercury square Neptune isn’t here to embarrass us for being sensitive.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrass
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Football was refereed differently all those years ago, but watch the entire 90 minutes here and the physical treatment handed out to Maradona should embarrass even the most partisan Englishman.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Still, Mercury square Neptune isn’t here to embarrass us for being sensitive.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for embarrass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrass
Verb
-
So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.
-
Why The Market Misprices Good Companies Investors often confuse business quality with investment quality.
Verb
-
The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded or there was an offside.
-
Too large a rotor can obstruct your suspension, impede your brakes and often won’t even fit inside your wheel or caliper.
Verb
-
This unforeseen shift now complicates Milwaukee's efforts to acquire a substantial draft-heavy package for their superstar.
-
Trump previously planned to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in May but canceled plans because of poor weather that would have complicated the helicopter flight to the retreat.
Verb
-
Proving he wasn't flustered, Gay judged length well, left the ball well, and picked his shots, especially against dangerous New Zealand quicks Will O'Rourke and Smith.
-
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.
Verb
-
Despite a 2019 public renunciation, MSV secretly governs 70% of public firms, hindering true economic progress.
-
Wilson was also hindered by personal failings.
Verb
-
Sometimes those editing swings make sense, like incorporating more social-media posts and group chats, but other times the stylistic choices simply perplex.
-
Many are perplexed by the decision to partner with Target given the boycott taking place due to the company’s rollback of DEI initiatives.
Verb
-
Oh, and more often than not, nobody bothers to check whether the change intervention actually worked, or whether leaders improve their performance after all!
-
The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Verb
-
Brown was hampered by a back injury in college, but that wasn’t enough to scare away the Nets.
-
Investors are advised to avoid ASA, as its future performance appears hampered by both gold's current stagnation and management issues.
Cite this Entry
“Embarrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrass. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
