1
as in confuses
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 impedes
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 complicates
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 embarrasses
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.
—
Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2025
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2025
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embarrasses
Verb
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thus, the inability to read complex material impedes social as well as intellectual growth.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2026
-
However, if leaving the door open impedes foot traffic or may allow a child or animal to become trapped inside the drum, even a few inches are helpful.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In particular, phase-change materials tend to leak during the liquid-to-solid transition, which complicates practical applications.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Adding other teams to the mix only complicates the deal-making process.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, which hinders his ability to communicate.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This superficial politeness hinders effective decision-making, erodes accountability, and leaves teams ill-equipped for pressure.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People don’t think this bothers me.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Fortune,
26 Jan. 2026
-
At one point, Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios defendants, asked Lively if negative publicity bothers her.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Read the Story US airlines are still paring back flights as a deep freeze hampers the restart of operations at some major hubs.—
Jordan Erb,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … SOUND OF MADNESS – Mystery hum rattles American city as residents report sleepless nights and rising fear.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In the videos, which are still streaming on the servers of the New York Times, the incessant Israeli bombing rattles the viewer’s nerves through the immediacy of our screens.—
Max Weiss,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embarrasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embarrasses. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
