verb

embarrass

im-BAR-us/ɪmˈbærəs/

To make someone feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.

The woman's laughter embarrasses the person trying to hide her mismatched shoes.

A woman embarrasses another woman by openly laughing and pointing at her mismatched shoes; the singled-out woman turns inward, partly covers her face, and tries to hide one shoe behind the other.

Etymology

French embarrasser literally meant to block. English uses such as perplexing or hindering someone bridge that obstructive sense and the later meaning of making someone feel awkward or self-conscious.

In context

FRONTLINE PBS | Official6:17

I think Vance was the guy who was supposed to slap Zelenskyy around, and he did. And to humiliate him and embarrass him, and to badger him the way that they did.

Trump’s Inner Circle & Use of Military Power | The War Cabinet (full documentary) | FRONTLINE (PBS)

More examples

I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone.
My loud ringtone embarrassed me during the meeting.
Please stop embarrassing your brother about his crush.

Forms

embarrass · embarrasses · embarrassed · embarrassing

embarrassment noun — The feeling of being awkward or ashamed.

Similar words

humiliate: Stronger; suggests seriously hurting someone's dignity or self-respect.
shame: Emphasizes making someone feel guilty, disgraced, or morally inadequate.
fluster: Emphasizes making someone nervous or confused rather than ashamed.