discomfort
Americannoun
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an absence of comfort or ease; uneasiness, hardship, or mild pain.
-
anything that is disturbing to or interferes with comfort.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an inconvenience, distress, or mild pain
-
something that disturbs or deprives of ease
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of discomfort
First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English discomforten “to discourage, pain,” from Anglo-French descomforter “to sadden, grieve”; equivalent to dis- 1 + comfort; noun derivative of verb
Explanation
Discomfort is the feeling of irritation, soreness, or pain that, though not severe, is annoying. Every year, people who get a cold or the flu experience a few days of discomfort. The noun discomfort is good for describing situations when you aren't quite in pain, but you don't feel very good. Things that cause discomfort include a dull toothache, a blister on your foot, and a terrible mattress. Discomfort can also describe embarrassment, like the discomfort you'd feel if you suddenly realized you were in the wrong classroom.
Vocabulary lists containing discomfort
Stay Strong: Forc and Fort
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Smile
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That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Discomfort is no longer something to work through but something to explain—often by projecting blame onto an external source.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Discomfort in his elbow will only increase the degree of difficulty.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2024
Discomfort discussing a sensitive health topic with a provider -- often cited in marketing by such companies -- was only mentioned by 10% of those who had turned to a DTC service.
From Science Daily • Jan. 14, 2024
Discomfort does not feel good, but it is not a threat.
From Slate • Nov. 1, 2023
Always be kind to Dumb Animals—their Lives are short, and should be made Happy and as Comfortable as possible—even at the cost of a little Temporary Discomfort to yourself.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, April 8, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
