| verb | cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious |
| verb | hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of “His brother blocked him at every turn” |
| adjective | hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment “awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion” |
| adjective | causing to feel shame or chagrin or vexation “the embarrassing moment when she found her petticoat down around her ankles” |
| embarrassment | noun | some event that causes someone to be embarrassed |
| abashment | noun | feeling embarrassed due to modesty |
| obstruction | noun | the act of obstructing |
| obstructer | noun | someone who systematically obstructs some action that others want to take |
| obstructor | noun | someone who systematically obstructs some action that others want to take |
| blockage | noun | the physical condition of blocking or filling a passage with an obstruction |
| hindrance | noun | something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress |
| stymie | noun | a thwarting and distressing situation |
| awkwardness | noun | the quality of an embarrassing situation |