disembarrass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “disembarrass” mean?
To free from embarrassment, difficulty, or entanglement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To free from embarrassment, difficulty, or entanglement; to relieve of a burden.
To extricate or release someone or something from an awkward, burdensome, or obstructive situation or condition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly archaic or bookish connotation in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary spoken or written language in both BrE and AmE. Found primarily in older literary texts or very formal prose.
Grammar
How to Use “disembarrass” in a Sentence
[Subject] disembarrassed [Object] of [Burden][Subject] disembarrassed [Reflexive Pronoun] of [Burden]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disembarrass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He sought to disembarrass himself of the onerous contract.
- The new policy will disembarrass travellers from excessive paperwork.
American English
- She finally disembarrassed herself of the old family estate.
- The law was designed to disembarrass small businesses from complex regulations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports discussing divestiture: 'The board moved to disembarrass the firm of its unprofitable divisions.'
Academic
Very rare. Possible in historical or literary analysis describing characters freeing themselves from obligations.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not used in common technical registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disembarrass”
- Using it in casual conversation.
- Confusing it with 'disembody' (to separate from the body).
- Misspelling as 'disembarass' (single 'r').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered formal or literary. In most contexts, 'free', 'rid', or 'relieve' are preferable.
Yes, the reflexive construction 'disembarrass oneself of something' is the most common pattern, meaning to free yourself from a burden.
They are close synonyms. 'Disembarrass' often has a stronger connotation of relieving from an awkward or embarrassing situation, while 'disencumber' is more neutral, focusing on removing a literal or figurative load.
The noun 'disembarrassment' exists but is even rarer than the verb. It means the act of disembarrassing or the state of being disembarrassed.
To free from embarrassment, difficulty, or entanglement.
Disembarrass is usually formal, literary in register.
Disembarrass: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.ɪmˈbær.əs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.əmˈber.əs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the opposite of 'EMBARRASS'. DIS-EMBARRASS means to take the embarrassment or difficulty AWAY (DIS-).
Conceptual Metaphor
BURDENS ARE PHYSICAL OBJECTS THAT CAN BE REMOVED (e.g., disembarrass oneself of a weight).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'disembarrass' used CORRECTLY?