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definitions

discomfiture

[dis-kuhm-fi-cher]
See more synonyms for discomfiture on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the state of being disconcerted; confusion; embarrassment.
  2. frustration of hopes or plans.
  3. Archaic. defeat in battle; rout.

Origin of discomfiture

1300–50; Middle English desconfiture < Anglo-French: defeat. See discomfit, -ure
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for discomfiture

undoing, humiliation, agitation, conquest, shame, uneasiness, abashment, perturbation, descent, ruin, disquiet, overthrow, beating, demoralization, comedown, chagrin, confusion, unease, failure, discomposure

Examples from the Web for discomfiture

Contemporary Examples of discomfiture

  • Recent years have seen an increase in private sector health care, to, inevitably, the relief of some and discomfiture of others.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Reading Obamacare In Jerusalem

    Yehudah Mirsky

    July 13, 2012

Historical Examples of discomfiture

  • He entered with an expression of discomfiture on his rather vacuous countenance.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • "Oh, I'll apologize," he said with a wry smile of discomfiture.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • Gilberte insistently went on, as if enjoying her friend's discomfiture.

    The Downfall

    Emile Zola

  • He seemed to be enjoying their discomfiture, and absolutely confident of his own safety.

    The Einstein See-Saw

    Miles John Breuer

  • "I know—I haven't forgot," he muttered, covering his discomfiture.

    A Son of Hagar

    Sir Hall Caine

Word Origin and History for discomfiture
n.

mid-14c., from Old French desconfiture "rout, defeat" (12c.; Modern French déconfiture), from desconfit (see discomfit).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper