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 Word Forms

• discomfortable adjective
• discomfortingly 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

For example, she says, using AI to write a breakup text might be a way to avoid the discomfort of the situation.

From BBC

“The discomfort I developed for myself was not a product of my queerness, but instead a product of the attitude of people around me, because I was so worried about not being accepted.”

From Los Angeles Times

There has been some discomfort among Labour MPs over the home secretary's plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent settlement status in the UK.

From BBC

"It was constant discomfort and pain, like glass in your eyes," she said.

From BBC

If a poison tastes bad or causes any discomfort or pain to a rat, they will not eat more.

From BBC

Related Words

• ache 
• annoyance 
• displeasure 
• disquiet 
• embarrassment 
• hardship 
• soreness www.thesaurus.com
• trouble 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com
• unpleasantness