Words / A2

im-BAR-uh-s/ɪmˈbærəs/

Embarrass means make someone feel awkward: embarrass someone, don’t embarrass me, so embarrassed (adjective). Shame is stronger. Embrace means hug — mix-up. Spelling: double r, double s. Do not write embarrass when you mean embrace, or embassy.

Meaning

To make someone feel awkward or ashamed.

Examples

• “Please do not embarrass me in front of the tour group.”
• “A loud ringtone will embarrass you in the quiet carriage.”
• “He did not mean to embarrass the waiter about the bill.”

Good to know

embarrass someone; feel embarrassed. Spelling: rr + ss. Mix-up: embrace, embassy.

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