Embarrass
verb
To make someone feel nervous, ashamed, or foolish in a social situation.
His constant jokes about my mistake began to embarrass me.
Often appears as...
- embarrass someone
- simply embarrass
verb
To have difficulty doing something because it is complicated.
The company was embarrassed by the complexity of their new project.
Often appears as...
- embarrass by something
- greatly embarrass
verb
To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease.
The student was embarrassed when the teacher asked her to read her essay aloud.
Often appears as...
- feel embarrassed
- embarrass someone
verb
To make difficult or complex.
The case was further embarrassed by the addition of new evidence.
Often appears as...
- embarrass the case
- further embarrass
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To make someone feel nervous, ashamed, or foolish in a social situation.
His constant jokes about my mistake began to embarrass me.
Often appears as...
- embarrass someone
- simply embarrass
verb
To have difficulty doing something because it is complicated.
The company was embarrassed by the complexity of their new project.
Often appears as...
- embarrass by something
- greatly embarrass
verb
To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease.
The student was embarrassed when the teacher asked her to read her essay aloud.
Often appears as...
- feel embarrassed
- embarrass someone
verb
To make difficult or complex.
The case was further embarrassed by the addition of new evidence.
Often appears as...
- embarrass the case
- further embarrass
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Socially Awkward
Used when someone's actions cause others social discomfort or awkwardness.
Laughing at him in front of our friends seemed to embarrass him.
Pro Tip 2/3Accidental Slip
Often happens without intent, when someone says or does something thoughtlessly.
I didn't mean to embarrass her by bringing up that topic.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Topics
Be cautious with topics that may easily make someone feel embarrassed.
Discussing financial matters can embarrass some people.
Pro Tip 1/3Socially Awkward
Used when someone's actions cause others social discomfort or awkwardness.
Laughing at him in front of our friends seemed to embarrass him.
Pro Tip 2/3Accidental Slip
Often happens without intent, when someone says or does something thoughtlessly.
I didn't mean to embarrass her by bringing up that topic.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Topics
Be cautious with topics that may easily make someone feel embarrassed.
Discussing financial matters can embarrass some people.
Pro Tip 1/3Socially Awkward
Used when someone's actions cause others social discomfort or awkwardness.
Laughing at him in front of our friends seemed to embarrass him.
Pro Tip 2/3Accidental Slip
Often happens without intent, when someone says or does something thoughtlessly.
I didn't mean to embarrass her by bringing up that topic.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Topics
Be cautious with topics that may easily make someone feel embarrassed.
Discussing financial matters can embarrass some people.
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Video examples
Drew Dudley: Everyday...
This girl knows what I'm talking about. "Then you looked at the guy next to me, smiled, reached into your bucket, pulled out a lollipop, held it out to him and said, 'You need to give a lollipop to the beautiful woman next to you.'" She said, "I've never seen anyone get more embarrassed faster in my life. He turned beet red, he wouldn't even look at me.
Video examples
Julian Baggini: Is there...
And this, I think, is very, very significant, particularly at this stage of life you're at. You'll be aware of the fact how much of you changed over recent years. If you have any videos of yourself, three or four years ago, you probably feel embarrassed because you don't recognize yourself. So I want to get that message over, that what we need to do
Video examples
David Mackay: A reality...
Use your own eyes and be smart. Read your meter, and if you're anything like me, it'll change your life. Here's a graph I made. I was writing a book about sustainable energy, and a friend asked me, "How much energy do you use at home?" I was embarrassed; I didn't actually know. And so I started reading the meter every week.
Video examples
David Attenborough On...
most remarkable way you identify with some of these characters there's an age-old chimpanzee which we used the names which the scientists themselves use who are watching it and they called this chimpanzee a bit my message my embarrassment they call it David so it
Video examples
Let's talk about sex -...
And here you are, a 13-year old human perplexed and embarrassed about sex. That's what I came here to tell we don't know why sex evolved nor why it persists. Why don't we just clone ourselves like all life did a billion years ago? It's so much more efficient.
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
one of the participants took me aside, and she said, "I suffer from depression and I'm a little embarrassed about it, but I've been taking this medication, and I just wanted to ask you what you think?" And so I did my best to give her such advice as I could.
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
the reactions of everyone on campus Luc's of confusion fear sympathy pity but what happened next is a testament to the antisocial academic had become instead of feeling self-conscious or embarrassed by their reactions I thought
Video examples
Tim Urban: Inside the...
but he suddenly wakes up anytime a deadline gets too close or there's danger of public embarrassment, a career disaster or some other scary consequence. And importantly, he's the only thing the Monkey is terrified of.
Video examples
The science of stage...
Palms sweaty, heart racing, stomach in knots. You can't cry for help. Not only is your throat too tight to breathe, but it'd be so embarrassing. No, you aren't being stalked by a monster, you're speaking in public,
Video examples
Titanic: A Remembrance PIPE...
and we were embarrassed that we were celebrating and everyone just lets silent and looked at one another and then I said stop the ship and we had
Video examples
Drew Dudley: Everyday...
This girl knows what I'm talking about. "Then you looked at the guy next to me, smiled, reached into your bucket, pulled out a lollipop, held it out to him and said, 'You need to give a lollipop to the beautiful woman next to you.'" She said, "I've never seen anyone get more embarrassed faster in my life. He turned beet red, he wouldn't even look at me.
Video examples
Julian Baggini: Is there...
And this, I think, is very, very significant, particularly at this stage of life you're at. You'll be aware of the fact how much of you changed over recent years. If you have any videos of yourself, three or four years ago, you probably feel embarrassed because you don't recognize yourself. So I want to get that message over, that what we need to do
Video examples
David Mackay: A reality...
Use your own eyes and be smart. Read your meter, and if you're anything like me, it'll change your life. Here's a graph I made. I was writing a book about sustainable energy, and a friend asked me, "How much energy do you use at home?" I was embarrassed; I didn't actually know. And so I started reading the meter every week.
Video examples
David Attenborough On...
most remarkable way you identify with some of these characters there's an age-old chimpanzee which we used the names which the scientists themselves use who are watching it and they called this chimpanzee a bit my message my embarrassment they call it David so it
Video examples
Let's talk about sex -...
And here you are, a 13-year old human perplexed and embarrassed about sex. That's what I came here to tell we don't know why sex evolved nor why it persists. Why don't we just clone ourselves like all life did a billion years ago? It's so much more efficient.
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
one of the participants took me aside, and she said, "I suffer from depression and I'm a little embarrassed about it, but I've been taking this medication, and I just wanted to ask you what you think?" And so I did my best to give her such advice as I could.
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
the reactions of everyone on campus Luc's of confusion fear sympathy pity but what happened next is a testament to the antisocial academic had become instead of feeling self-conscious or embarrassed by their reactions I thought
Video examples
Tim Urban: Inside the...
but he suddenly wakes up anytime a deadline gets too close or there's danger of public embarrassment, a career disaster or some other scary consequence. And importantly, he's the only thing the Monkey is terrified of.
Video examples
The science of stage...
Palms sweaty, heart racing, stomach in knots. You can't cry for help. Not only is your throat too tight to breathe, but it'd be so embarrassing. No, you aren't being stalked by a monster, you're speaking in public,
Video examples
Titanic: A Remembrance PIPE...
and we were embarrassed that we were celebrating and everyone just lets silent and looked at one another and then I said stop the ship and we had
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I would try to promote something that I loved, and the entire interview would be about my personal life. I would leave a room feeling defeated, feeling embarrassed, but I would always make sure to put that smile on my face because I wasn't going to let them get to me.
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
It's human nature to not say everything that's on your mind at the time you think it. Because we fear saying something that people will laugh at, people will think is dumb. We're afraid of being embarrassed.
Quote examples
Michael Jordan
American Basketball Player
When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing.
Quote examples
Christian Bale
Welsh Actor
But I learned that there's a certain character that can be built from embarrassing yourself endlessly. If you can sit happy with embarrassment, there's not much else that can really get to ya.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than 'try to be a little kinder.
Quote examples
Neena Gupta
Indian Actress
It's important that you are not embarrassed when you try something new.
Quote examples
Bruce Nauman
American Sculptor
I don't like to think about being an influence. It's embarrassing.
Quote examples
James Murphy
American Musician
You can't be afraid to embarrass yourself sometimes.
Quote examples
Hugh Grant
English Actor
Basically, my life is so boring, it's embarrassing.
Quote examples
Jessica Chastain
American Actress
I've spent my life being embarrassed.
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I would try to promote something that I loved, and the entire interview would be about my personal life. I would leave a room feeling defeated, feeling embarrassed, but I would always make sure to put that smile on my face because I wasn't going to let them get to me.
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
It's human nature to not say everything that's on your mind at the time you think it. Because we fear saying something that people will laugh at, people will think is dumb. We're afraid of being embarrassed.
Quote examples
Michael Jordan
American Basketball Player
When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing.
Quote examples
Christian Bale
Welsh Actor
But I learned that there's a certain character that can be built from embarrassing yourself endlessly. If you can sit happy with embarrassment, there's not much else that can really get to ya.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than 'try to be a little kinder.
Quote examples
Neena Gupta
Indian Actress
It's important that you are not embarrassed when you try something new.
Quote examples
Bruce Nauman
American Sculptor
I don't like to think about being an influence. It's embarrassing.
Quote examples
James Murphy
American Musician
You can't be afraid to embarrass yourself sometimes.
Quote examples
Hugh Grant
English Actor
Basically, my life is so boring, it's embarrassing.
Quote examples
Jessica Chastain
American Actress
I've spent my life being embarrassed.
Example 1 of 10
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