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
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something that disturbs or deprives of ease
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have discomfortedperfect
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has discomfortedperfect 3rd person singular
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am discomfortingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been discomfortingperfect progressive
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discomfortingparticiple
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is discomfortingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are discomfortingprogressive
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has been discomfortingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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discomfortssingular 3rd person
Past
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had discomfortedperfect
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discomfortedparticiple
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had been discomfortingperfect progressive
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were discomfortingprogressive plural
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was discomfortingprogressive singular
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discomfortedsimple
Future
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 is perhaps the place where Homelander most happily lives, especially in the finale.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 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 during his rehab process led to further tests, and he was diagnosed with a tear in the flexor tendon and a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024
Discomfort and anger pushed Simon to his feet.
From The Saracen: Land of the Infidel by Shea, Robert
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.
