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tr.v. em·bar·rassed, em·bar·rass·ing, em·bar·rass·es 1. To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease; disconcert: Meeting adults embarrassed the shy child. 2. To hinder with obstacles or difficulties; impede: "an ambitious raid meant to embarrass his supply line by burning the bridges" (William Marvel). 3. Archaic To involve in or hamper with financial difficulties: The company was embarrassed and had to mortgage its properties. [French embarrasser, to encumber, hamper, from Spanish embarazar, from Italian imbarazzare, from imbarazzo, obstacle, obstruction, from imbarrare, to block, bar : in-, in (from Latin; see EN-1) + barra, bar (from Vulgar Latin *barra).] em·barrassed·ly adv. em·barrass·ing·ly adv. Synonyms: embarrass, abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, faze These verbs mean to cause someone to feel self-conscious and uneasy: were embarrassed by their child's tantrum; felt abashed at the disclosure of the error; will be chagrined if my confident prediction fails; was discomfited by the sudden personal question; is disconcerted by sarcastic remarks; refuses to be fazed by your objections. |
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