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What is the difference between embarrass and abash?

embarrass | abash |

Abash is a synonym of embarrass.



In transitive terms the difference between embarrass and abash

is that embarrass is to involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands while abash is to make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit.

embarrass

English

Verb

(es)
  • to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to disconcert; to abash
    • The crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him.
  • To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.
    • Business is embarrassed'''; public affairs are '''embarrassed .
  • To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.
    • A man or his business is embarrassed when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements.

    Synonyms

    * (humiliate) abash, discomfit, disconcert, humiliate, shame * See also

    Derived terms

    * embarrassment

    External links

    * *

    abash

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit.
    • "He was a man whom no check could abash ." – .
  • (obsolete) To lose self-possession; to become ashamed.

    • Usage notes

    * Of abash, confuse, confound: Abash' is a stronger word than '''confuse''', but not so strong as ' confound . ** We are abashed'' when struck either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as, Peter was ''abashed'' by the look of his Master. So a modest youth is ''abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his superiors. ** We are confused'' when, from some unexpected or startling occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a witness is often ''confused'' by a severe cross-examination; a timid person is apt to be ''confused in entering a room full of strangers. ** We are confounded'' when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually ''confounded at the discovery of his guilt. *::* Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. – John Milton

    Synonyms

    * confuse * confound * disconcert * shame * humiliate * embarrass * See also

    Antonyms

    * embolden * reassure

    Derived terms

    * abashed * abashedly * abashedness * abashless * abashment

    Anagrams

    * *

    References