embarrass

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to abash.

   The crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him.

2. 2
   verb

   To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.

   The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.

3. 3
   verb

   To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.

   A man or his business is embarrassed when he cannot meet his pecuniary engagements.

4. 4
   verb

   cause to be embarrassed

5. 5
   verb

   hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

6. 6
   verb

   To perplex mentally; confuse, disconcert; catch off guard.

7. 7
   name

   A river or settlement in the United States:

Etymology

Borrowed from French embarrasser, from Middle French embarrasser, embarasser (“to embarrass; to block, obstruct”), from Spanish embarazar, either from Italian imbarazzare or from Portuguese embaraçar.