discomfort

[ dis-kuhm-fert ]

noun

1. an absence of comfort or ease; uneasiness, hardship, or mild pain.
2. anything that is disturbing to or interferes with comfort.

verb (used with object)

1. to disturb the comfort or happiness of; make uncomfortable or uneasy.

discomfort

/ dɪsˈkʌmfət /

noun

1. an inconvenience, distress, or mild pain
2. something that disturbs or deprives of ease

verb

1. tr to make uncomfortable or uneasy

Other Words From

• dis·com·fort·a·ble [dis-, kuhm, -fer-t, uh, -b, uh, l, -, kuhmf, -t, uh, -], adjective
• dis·comfort·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discomfort¹

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

Example Sentences

Keep those toes warmYour extremities might be the most important parts of your body to care for and pay attention to as you seek to prevent discomfort and cold injuries such as frostbite.

From Popular-Science

While Hart’s research shows that people generally overestimate the discomfort level, plainly there are limits.

From Freakonomics

Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent this, but getting the shot in your non-dominant arm can mean less discomfort the following day, which you can then treat with a warm compress.

From Popular-Science

Aside from the obvious discomfort when wearing cold, wet clothing, it is actually dangerous.

From Popular-Science

Get some backupIn the gaming community, some see gaming sickness as a weakness, but there’s absolutely no shame in getting some help if it means reducing discomfort and playing for a little while longer.

From Popular-Science

Scrolling through this hate-filled manifesto for the first time made the hairs on my arm tingle with discomfort.

From The Daily Beast

He uses some combination of the words comfort or discomfort in regards to how he feels about situations over 30 times.

From The Daily Beast

All under the same roof— but a place containing extremes of comfort and discomfort.

From The Daily Beast

For most people, just saying the name Manson is enough to prompt discomfort.

From The Daily Beast

My discomfort stemmed from the inherent gulf between the two disciplines.

From The Daily Beast

The rest is easy, though you may be subjected to some slight discomfort between this and Grenoble.

From Project Gutenberg

The excitement of the occasion may prevent immediate discomfort in such cases, but it adds to the subsequent danger.

From Project Gutenberg

It became possible to breathe without discomfort to the lungs; my eyes no longer stung and watered.

From Project Gutenberg

She was delicate and unaccustomed to privation and discomfort—and the cottage had its disadvantages.

From Project Gutenberg

Margaret tried to talk of other things, but was in too much discomfort to exert herself enough to divert his attention.

From Project Gutenberg