adjective
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not comfortable
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feeling or causing discomfort or unease; disquieting
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uncomfortable
First recorded in 1585–95; un- 1 + comfortable
Explanation
If it's very hot or very cold in the room, chances are you are going to feel uncomfortable or ill-at-ease. The word uncomfortable comes from the prefix un- meaning "not" and comfortable meaning "affording comfort." When something is uncomfortable, it doesn't allow you to relax. A hard chair can be uncomfortable. So can a tense situation in which two people are arguing. Someone can make you feel uncomfortable by saying something inappropriate.
Vocabulary lists containing uncomfortable
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
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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.
Banished from the home for her creepy behavior and uncomfortable revelations, Winifred returns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026
The timing is uncomfortable for the broader tech market, said Saxo strategist Charu Chanana.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
"These are uncomfortable topics but it is part of our job as the board to raise them, if we want to change things," said Seeger.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
While die-hard laetrile supporters were unfazed, the public grew more and more uncomfortable defending it.
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026
It was uncomfortable to let anyone look into his eyes for too long.
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
