Meaning & use

embarrass

verb·Everyday

To cause someone to feel awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious in front of others.

See it in a sentence

Tripping on stage in front of the whole school would embarrass anyone.

She didn't mean to embarrass her brother by mentioning his old nickname at dinner.

A note on using this word

Remember the double r and double s in embarrass, a spelling many learners get wrong.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

reassure

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “embarrass”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.