discomfort
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a feeling of slight pain or worry that makes you feel uneasy.
n.a state of physical or psychological distress that is typically less intense than acute pain or suffering.
Simple“The patient reported some mild discomfort in his shoulder after the surgery.”
In context“While the procedure is generally painless, patients may experience significant discomfort as the local anaesthetic begins to wear off.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun for the general feeling, but can be countable when referring to specific instances.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.something that makes you feel uncomfortable or annoyed.
n.an external circumstance or object that disturbs one's comfort or convenience.
Simple“The lack of air conditioning was a major discomfort during the summer heatwave.”
In context“The explorers endured the discomforts of the damp cave for three days while waiting for the storm to pass.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural ('discomforts') to describe difficult living conditions.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to make someone feel worried, embarrassed, or physically uncomfortable.
v.to cause a person to feel distress, embarrassment, or lack of ease.
Simple“The sudden silence in the room seemed to discomfort the speaker.”
In context“The prosecutor's aggressive line of questioning was clearly intended to discomfort the witness and undermine her composure.”
UsageThis transitive verb is less common than the noun form and often appears in formal or literary contexts.
Usage discomfort for people
“That’s not the only instance where the material might benefit from one more draft: see the routine about his discomfort with dating black men.”
“This can raise core body temperature, only adding to the discomfort when you're already hot, she said.”
From Middle English discomforten, from Anglo-Norman descomforter, equivalent to dis- + comfort.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.