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embarrass

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of embarrass

1 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress

  • the modest young soldiers were embarrassed by the public praise for their heroism
Synonyms of embarrass

abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle
Words Related to embarrass

agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, put off, put out, unhinge, unsettle, upset

debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, queer, shame
Near Antonyms of embarrass

calm, comfort, console, relieve, soothe

buoy, cheer, embolden, encourage, hearten

assure, reassure

2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of

  • a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization
Synonyms of embarrass

clog, cramp, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel
Words Related to embarrass

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock

bog (down), mire

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart

derail, disrupt, sabotage

muzzle, repress, suppress

confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
Phrases Synonymous with embarrass

cramp oneʼs style, give a hard time
Near Antonyms of embarrass

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop

free, liberate, release, untie

loosen, smooth

encourage, further, promote
Antonyms of embarrass

aid, assist, facilitate, help

3 to make complex or difficult

  • claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state
Synonyms of embarrass

complex, complexify, complicate, entangle, perplex, sophisticate
Words Related to embarrass

develop, elaborate, expand

intensify, magnify

confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle

snarl, tangle
Near Antonyms of embarrass

abbreviate, cut, shorten

ease, facilitate

disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle

oversimplify
Antonyms of embarrass

simplify, streamline

Synonym Discussion of embarrass

embarrass, discomfit, abash, disconcert, rattle mean to distress by confusing or confounding. embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action.
    • The question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer
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

Learn More about embarrass

  1. See words that rhyme with embarrass Dictionary: Definition of embarrass Medical Dictionary: Definition of embarrass Spanish Central: Translation of embarrass Nglish: Translation of embarrass for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of embarrass for Arabic speakers

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