EMBARRASS


Meaning of EMBARRASS in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ im-ˈber-əs, -ˈba-rəs ]

verb

Etymology: French embarrasser, from Spanish embarazar, from Portuguese embaraçar, from em- (from Latin in- ) + baraça noose

Date: 1672

transitive verb

1.

a. : to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties

b. : to involve in financial difficulties

c. : to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress

bawdy stories embarrass ed him

2.

a. : to hamper the movement of

b. : hinder , impede

3. : to make intricate : complicate

4. : to impair the activity of (a bodily function) or the function of (a bodily part)

digestion embarrass ed by overeating

intransitive verb

: to become anxiously self-conscious

he embarrass es easily

• em·bar·rass·able -ə-sə-bəl adjective

Synonyms:

embarrass , discomfit , abash , disconcert , rattle mean to distress by confusing or confounding. embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action

embarrassed to admit that she liked the movie

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.