What does "uncomfortable" mean?

1. (causing physical pain) describing something that does not feel good to your body, like a hard chair or tight shoes. 2. (feeling physical pain) feeling slightly painful or not relaxed in your body. 3. (socially awkward or worried) feeling embarrassed, nervous, or worried in a social situation. 4. (difficult to accept) describing a fact or situation that makes you feel worried because it is hard to deal with.

uncomfortable

adj.

US //ənˈkəmfɝtəbəɫ// UK //ʌnkˈʌmftəbəl// un·com·fort·able

1 causing physical pain (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

describing something that does not feel good to your body, like a hard chair or tight shoes.

causing physical discomfort or mild pain due to poor design, fit, or environmental conditions.

Example

These new shoes are very uncomfortable and give me blisters if I walk too far.

Example

The budget airline's seats were notoriously uncomfortable, offering minimal legroom and almost no lumbar support for the six-hour flight.
- comfortable
- cosy
2 feeling physical pain (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

feeling slightly painful or not relaxed in your body.

experiencing physical distress or a lack of ease.

Example

I felt uncomfortable sitting on the floor for such a long time.

Example

He became increasingly uncomfortable as the fever rose, finding it impossible to settle into a restful position despite the soft bedding.
- sore
- aching
- comfortable
- relaxed

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3 socially awkward or worried (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

feeling embarrassed, nervous, or worried in a social situation.

experiencing mental unease, anxiety, or social awkwardness.

Example

There was an uncomfortable silence after he asked about her ex-husband.

Example

The candidate looked visibly uncomfortable when the interviewer began probing into the specific reasons for her sudden departure from her previous firm.
- confident
- at ease
4 difficult to accept (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describing a fact or situation that makes you feel worried because it is hard to deal with.

causing mental distress or moral unease because a situation is difficult to face or acknowledge.

Example

The documentary reveals some uncomfortable truths about how our clothes are made.

Example

The report presents an uncomfortable reality for the board, suggesting that their current strategy is no longer sustainable in the modern market.
- disturbing
- unsettling
- reassuring

Origin

From un- + comfortable.

Word family

Adjectiveuncomfortable
Adverbuncomfortably