embarrass

[em-bar-uhs] / ɛmˈbær əs /

VERB

cause mental discomfort

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate annoy bewilder bother confuse disconcert distract disturb dumbfound faze fluster irk mortify perplex perturb plague puzzle rattle shame stun upset

STRONG

abash bug chagrin discombobulate discomfit discompose discountenance distress nonplus tease throw

WEAK

catch one short give a bad time give a hard time hang up let down make a monkey of put in a hole put in a spot put on the spot put out of countenance show up throw into a tizzy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid appease calm clarify clear up comfort delight enlighten explain help make happy order organize please quiet soothe

WEAK

gladden

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The leaks that embarrass leaders usually aren’t about confidential business initiatives.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

This is not revelation: The defense secretary is well known for preening for the cameras with a level of self-regard that would embarrass most supermodels.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

They were blown away by Ireland at Twickenham as the men in green ran in five tries to embarrass Steve Borthwick's side 42-21.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

“I’m not gonna embarrass anyone, cough, Anthropic,” Malik said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

“I can eat three but didn’t want to embarrass you.”

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Vocabulary lists containing embarrass

Super Bowl Blowout: Epic Vocab for the Big Game

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

List 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!