embarrass

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
  2. verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

abash

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