embaraçar

[ẽ.ba.ra.ˈsar]

verb

to embarrass, to hinder, to obstruct

1. to cause someone to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed

Her comments embarrassed him in front of everyone.

Os comentários dela o embaraçaram na frente de todos.

2. to obstruct, block, or hinder movement or progress

The fallen tree embarrassed the path.

A árvore caída embaraçava o caminho.

3. to complicate or make difficult

The new regulations embarrassed the process.

As novas regulamentações embaraçaram o processo.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

embaraçar

Standard usage for both 'to embarrass' and 'to obstruct'

Portugal

embaraçar

More commonly used for 'to obstruct'; 'envergonhar' preferred for 'to embarrass'

São Paulo

atrapalhar

Often used colloquially instead of embaraçar for 'to hinder'

embaraçar a língua (to tie one's tongue, to be tongue-tied)

embaraçado de pés e mãos (at a loss, helpless)

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