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

The 40-year-old missed the beginning of a season for the first time in his NBA career after starting to feel discomfort in his right side this summer.

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They make inside jokes in Fante and then stare directly at me to encourage optimal discomfort.

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Any discomfort would be worth getting back to Ashton Place.

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Yet despite all her worries, waking up in the deliciously familiar discomfort of a Swanburne cot made Penelope feel positively giddy.

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“The forest is deep and dark, and full of danger. There will be danger and discomfort at every turn.”

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Related Words

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