Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed: To make someone feel uncomfortable, nervous, or ashamed because of something they have done or because of a situation.
   • To hinder, complicate, or obstruct something: To make a situation, process, or action more difficult or complicated.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (to cause discomfort/self-consciousness):
  • His clumsy comment really embarrassed her in front of the whole team.
  • I was embarrassed when I realized I had been talking with spinach in my teeth.
• Verb (to hinder or complicate):
  • The lack of funding embarrassed the project's completion.
  • A series of legal challenges embarrassed the implementation of the new policy.

Advanced Usage

• "to be embarrassed by/at/about something": To feel shame or discomfort because of a specific thing.
  • She was deeply embarrassed by her son's public outburst.
  • He felt embarrassed at his own lack of preparation.
• "to embarrass oneself": To cause one's own feelings of shame or awkwardness through one's actions.
  • He embarrassed himself by trying to tell a joke that no one understood.

Variants and Related Words

• Embarrassing (adj): Causing a feeling of embarrassment.
  • It was an embarrassing mistake.
• Embarrassment (n):
  • The feeling of being embarrassed.

    • Her face was red with embarrassment.
  • A person or thing that causes embarrassment.

    • His behavior was an embarrassment to the family.
  • A state of financial difficulty (archaic/formal).

    • The company faced financial embarrassment.

Synonyms

• Mortify: To cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed.
• Fluster: To make someone nervous or confused, often causing them to act awkwardly.
• Hinder: To create difficulties for something, resulting in delay or obstruction (for the second meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Embarrass" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The meanings are typically expressed through prepositional phrases like "embarrassed by" or passive constructions.)

Related Idioms

• An embarrassment of riches: A situation where there are so many good things or choices that it becomes a problem.
  • With three excellent candidates, the hiring committee had an embarrassment of riches.

Verb

1. hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
   • His brother blocked him at every turn
2. cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious