embarrass

Universal Words verb [VN] 1 to make sb feel shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation: [VN] Her questions about my private life embarrassed me. * I didn't want to embarrass him by kissing him in front of his friends. * [VNtoinf] It embarrassed her to meet strange men in the corridor at night. 2 to cause problems or difficulties for sb: The speech was deliberately designed to embarrass the prime minister.