1.embarrass作“使窘迫; 使难为情”解时,常指阻碍别人自由表达思想、言语或行动的某种影响,暗示或者强调一种使人窘迫或紧张、受约束的后果。由此引申为“使(某人的计划或行动)受阻、受困扰”。
2.embarrass可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词。用作及物动词时,接名词或代词作宾语,可用于被动语态。

embarrass by(v.+prep.)
▲embarrass sb/sth by sth/v-ing
1.因…而复杂化或窘迫 complicate or awkward because of sth
He embarrasses the discussion of the simplest subject by use of a difficult technical terms.他用难懂的专门字眼使最简单的题目讨论复杂化了。
They embarrassed her by complimenting her on her beauty.他们恭维她的美貌使她很不好意思。
2.使…困难 make difficult
◇ 常用于be ～ed结构
He was embarrassed by many debts.他被大量债务缠身。
Our progress was embarrassed by lots of baggage.大量的行李使我们行进困难。
His digestion was embarrassed by overeating.饮食过量使他消化不良。
His business was embarrassed for a time by lack of ready money.由于流动资金的缺少使业务活动受阻。

embarrass with(v.+prep.)
以…难住 confuse
▲embarrass sb/sth with sth
He embarrassed me with a difficult question.他出了一道难题把我难住了。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Seeing he was embarrassed with his luggage,I offered to help him.我看见他带着行李不方便,就主动去帮他。
I am greatly embarrassed with this work.这工作使我大伤脑筋。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Girls embarrass easily.女孩子遇事容易感到局促不安。
Mother embarrassed when the children started laughing in the middle of the service.礼拜做到一半,孩子们开始笑了起来,母亲为此感到不好意思。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
The teacher always embarrasses the students.那位老师总是使学生们局促不安。
Her evident joy at his return somewhat embarrassed him.她一见到他回来就喜形于色使他有点不好意思。
A series of revelations has embarrassed the government.一连串事件的揭露使政府很难堪。
The long sleeves of her dress embarrassed her movements.她衣服的长袖子妨碍她的行动。
Lack of trucks embarrassed the army's movements.卡车的缺少阻碍了军队的行程。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
She was embarrassed when they asked her age.当他们问及她的年龄时她感到很窘。
She was embarrassed when they kept telling her how clever she was.当他们不停地说她非常聪明时,她很不好意思。
It was embarrassed to say anything to his wife about his job.他太难堪,没有给他妻子谈起他的工作。
We believe the company will be seriously embarrassed if it does not get the loan.我们认为如果这家公司得不到这笔贷款,势必陷入严重的经济困难。

embarrass, abash, discomfit, disconcert, rattle
这组词都有“使窘迫”的意思。它们的区别是:abash指使人感到羞愧、自卑或自我反省; discomfit指打乱对方计划,挫伤对方自尊心,以使别人狼狈或难堪; disconcert指使人在短时间内仓皇失措,失去信心; embarrass指产生妨碍某人的自由、思考、说话或行动的影响或作用; rattle在口语中更强调狼狈与慌张,暗示情绪激动,因而思维混乱,举止失常。