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
No one had fooled Coppola into embarrassing himself publicly — although there’s always a risk, when a powerful figure surrounds himself with yes-people, that no one is left to push back and challenge his choices.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And despite many predictions otherwise, the Dolphins didn’t embarrass the city, as the team showed fight until the very end.
—Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Good, because there is one Duck — Justin Herbert — who will happily embarrass them.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
The team that embarrassed the Rams at SoFi Stadium in November.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrass
Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And despite many predictions otherwise, the Dolphins didn’t embarrass the city, as the team showed fight until the very end.
—Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Good, because there is one Duck — Justin Herbert — who will happily embarrass them.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
The team that embarrassed the Rams at SoFi Stadium in November.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for embarrass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrass
Verb
-
By bridging cutting-edge research with accessible, actionable advice, this book fills a critical gap in the menopause conversation — one that has left millions of women confused, underserved and unheard.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Others commented on the eeriness of discovering unfamiliar images in one’s personal gallery and the realization of how default app settings can confuse or alarm users.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Prosecutors say Comey lied about authorizing an FBI source to speak to the media about the investigation and obstructed Congress by making false statements intended to impede lawmakers’ probe into the FBI’s actions, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by The Washington Post.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Another lottery pick, Leo Carlsson, twice impeded Utah’s progress up the ice.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But there have been some career stumbles recently, a superhero disappointment in particular, that must have complicated Johnson’s conception of his remarkable career.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Private payrolls plunged in September, complicating the picture for the US economy as policymakers and investors struggle to assess the state of the labor market amid a government shutdown.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the interview, which was published Thursday, Roberts recalled becoming flustered ahead of her first encounter with Sevigny.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
It doesn’t get flustered by high-pressure sales tactics or feel rushed to make a decision.—
Maya Ackerman,
Fortune,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These gaps have long hindered the growth of private assets in investor portfolios.—
Henry Fernandez,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Lower mortgage rates, which have fallen in recent weeks in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut rates for the first time since December 2024, are helping get buyers back to the market—but experts think that a government shutdown might hinder their return.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.—
Essence,
Essence,
18 Sep. 2025
-
For nearly 20 years, astronomers have been perplexed by the strange disk of dust and debris circling Fomalhaut, a bright star just 25 light-years from Earth.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Reviewing pages have been thinned by the forces of history and technology; few Pynchon skeptics anymore bother to take the time to read the novels and register their objections.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But Bob Say, owner of Los Angeles’ Freakbeat Records, for one, isn’t all that bothered.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After being hampered by injuries late in his time with the Royals, Keller is healthy and happy to be part of Chicago’s bullpen.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The appointment ends a three-month mayoral vacancy that has been hampering efforts to repair the city's aging, leak-prone water system.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Embarrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrass. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share