discomfort
gb/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/ us/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
B1
English
~ 8100
kellemetlen érzés, diszkomfortérzés, feszengés, zavar, kényelmetlenség, kellemetlenség, kellemetlenül érint, feszélyez, zavarba hoz
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels discomfort in [a body part]
She felt a sharp discomfort in her lower back after lifting the box.
A doboz felemelése után szúró kellemetlen érzést érzett a derekában.
If you experience any chest discomfort, contact your doctor immediately.
Ha bármilyen kellemetlen érzést tapasztal a mellkasában, azonnal forduljon orvoshoz.
The new shoes caused some discomfort around his ankles.
These exercises may cause mild discomfort at first, but it should fade quickly.
He shifted in his chair to ease the discomfort in his knees.
Learner examples
I feel some discomfort in my neck.
Kellemetlen érzést érzek a nyakamban.
The tight shoes give me discomfort when I walk.
A szűk cipő járás közben kellemetlen érzést okoz.
After the long flight, I had discomfort in my legs.
This cream can help reduce skin discomfort.
Tell the nurse if you have any discomfort during the test.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *discomfort* when they mean strong pain or a serious medical problem. *Discomfort* is usually mild. For strong pain, words like *pain*, *ache*, or *severe pain* are more natural. Learners also sometimes say *a discomfort* for general feeling; usually we say *some discomfort* or just *discomfort* without an article.
Meaning
mild physical pain or unease
Collocations
feel discomfort
|physical discomfort
|mild discomfort
|abdominal discomfort
|cause discomfort
|relieve discomfort
Synonyms
pain (Stronger and more intense than discomfort; often used for moderate or severe physical suffering.)
Antonyms
comfort (Describes a pleasant physical state without pain, pressure, or other unpleasant sensations.)
Themes
health
|daily_life
|medicine
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small, unpleasant feeling in your body, like light pain or pressure, not strong enough to be called real pain.
A mild but unpleasant physical feeling, such as slight pain, pressure, or general bodily unease.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone's] discomfort with [a situation or topic]
His discomfort with public speaking was obvious as he avoided eye contact with the audience.
A közönség előtti beszéd miatti feszengése nyilvánvaló volt: kerülte a szemkontaktust a hallgatósággal.
The interviewer noticed her discomfort when the topic of salary came up.
Az interjúztató észrevette a zavarát, amikor szóba került a fizetés.
The graphic details in the film caused some viewers visible discomfort.
She tried to hide her discomfort during the tense meeting.
To my discomfort, they started asking very personal questions.
Learner examples
He showed discomfort when we talked about money.
Látszott rajta a zavar, amikor a pénzről beszéltünk.
I feel discomfort when I speak English in front of many people.
Feszengve érzem magam, amikor sok ember előtt angolul beszélek.
The strange question gave her a lot of discomfort.
His face clearly showed discomfort during the interview.
She wrote an email to express her discomfort with the new policy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *shy* or *afraid* where *discomfort* is more natural for mild emotional unease. They may also confuse *discomfort* (a noun) with *uncomfortable* (an adjective). For example, say "I feel discomfort" or "I feel discomfort with this topic," not "I feel discomforted" in everyday speech; *discomforted* is rare and quite formal.
Meaning
emotional or social unease
Collocations
social discomfort
|emotional discomfort
|visible discomfort
|discomfort with [something]
|cause discomfort
|express discomfort
Synonyms
unease (Very close in meaning; often slightly more general and used for quiet worry or tension, not only social or emotional.)
Antonyms
ease (A relaxed, natural, and comfortable feeling in a situation, without nervousness or embarrassment.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A bad feeling when you feel nervous, shy, or not relaxed in a situation or when talking about something difficult.
A feeling of nervousness, embarrassment, or emotional unease, especially in a social situation or when dealing with a sensitive topic.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the discomfort of [an activity or condition]
We apologize for any discomfort caused during the building work.
Elnézést kérünk az építési munkálatok során okozott esetleges kellemetlenségekért.
He endured the discomfort of the long, crowded train ride without complaining.
Panasz nélkül elviselte a hosszú, zsúfolt vonatút kényelmetlenségeit.
They decided the discomfort of camping was worth the beautiful mountain views.
The company tried to reduce passenger discomfort by improving the seats.
Despite the discomfort of night shifts, she stayed in the job for the higher pay.
Learner examples
We had to live with some discomfort while the house was being fixed.
El kellett viselnünk némi kényelmetlenséget, amíg javították a házat.
The bus was full, and the trip was three hours of discomfort.
A busz tele volt, így a háromórás út végig kényelmetlenséggel járt.
He accepted the discomfort of a small room to save money.
The manager said sorry for the discomfort during the move.
She did not like the discomfort of working late at night.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the purely emotional one and use it in the wrong context. For situations like travel, noisy rooms, or hard chairs, *discomfort* is about conditions; for feelings like embarrassment, use emotional *discomfort*. Also, learners sometimes say *in a discomfort*; it is more natural to say *in discomfort* or *in some discomfort*.
Meaning
state of not being comfortable
Collocations
the discomfort of [travel]
|cold and discomfort
|noise and discomfort
|minor discomfort
|hours of discomfort
|long-term discomfort
Synonyms
inconvenience (Focuses more on practical problems and extra effort; *discomfort* includes the unpleasant feeling in those conditions.)
Antonyms
comfort (Describes pleasant, easy, and convenient conditions that do not cause physical or mental strain.)
Themes
daily_life
|travel
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The general situation when you are not comfortable, for example because a place is too hot, too cold, crowded, or not convenient.
The state of not being comfortable, especially when the conditions or environment are unpleasant, inconvenient, or slightly painful.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[something] discomforts [someone]
The graphic descriptions may discomfort some readers.
A naturalisztikus leírások egyes olvasókat kellemetlenül érinthetnek.
He was clearly discomforted by the personal nature of the questions.
Szemmel láthatóan kellemetlenül érintette, hogy a kérdések ilyen személyes jellegűek voltak.
The silence between them seemed to discomfort her more than his direct criticism.
Such jokes can discomfort people who have had similar experiences.
The topic still discomforts many members of the community.
Learner examples
The question seemed to discomfort him.
Úgy tűnt, a kérdés kellemetlenül érintette.
Her direct words discomforted the guests.
Szókimondó megjegyzései kellemetlenül érintették a vendégeket.
These photos may discomfort some people.
The idea of change discomforts many workers.
The story discomforted the audience in the room.
Common mistake:
Learners often try to use *discomfort* as a common verb in everyday speech, but native speakers usually prefer *make [someone] uncomfortable* or *bother [someone]*. The verb *discomfort* sounds formal or literary and is less frequent. For example, say "The question made him uncomfortable" rather than "The question discomforted him" in most situations.
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy
Collocations
deeply discomforts
|discomforts some readers
|morally discomforts
|visibly discomforts
|intensely discomforts
Synonyms
disturb (Suggests upsetting someone's peace or normal feeling; broader than *discomfort* and often stronger emotionally.)
Antonyms
comfort (Means to make someone feel better, safer, or more at ease, removing their discomfort.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|formal
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person feel not comfortable, for example by making them feel a little pain, shy, or worried.
To make someone feel physical or emotional discomfort, especially to make them feel embarrassed, disturbed, or not at ease.
Grammar
Dictionary form
discomfort
IPA
GB/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
US/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
Syllables & stress
dis - com - fort (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: discomfort
- Plural: discomfort, discomforts
Word family
Forms
discomforts
noun
Core family
comfort
noun A2
comfortable
adjective A2
Related words
comfortably
adverb B1
Negative and opposite forms
uncomfortable
adjective A2
uncomfortably
adverb B2
Expressions
cause discomfort
1/kˈɔz dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
fixed phrase
make someone feel discomfort
To make a person or group feel discomfort, either in their body or in their mind.
Examples
- The tight bandage may cause discomfort but should not be painful.
- Some comments in the meeting caused discomfort among the staff.
express discomfort
1/ɪkspɹˈɛs dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
fixed phrase
show or say you feel discomfort
To say or show that you feel discomfort about something.
Examples
- Several employees expressed discomfort with the new monitoring system.
- Residents have expressed discomfort about the level of noise at night.
feel discomfort
1/fˈil dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
fixed phrase
experience physical or emotional discomfort
To notice and have a feeling of discomfort in your body or your mind.
Examples
- If you feel discomfort in your chest, stop exercising immediately.
- Many students feel discomfort when they have to speak in front of the whole class.
in discomfort
1/ˈɪn dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
fixed phrase
in a state of discomfort
In a situation where you feel discomfort, usually for some time.
Examples
- He sat in discomfort through the three-hour lecture.
- The patients were left waiting in discomfort in the crowded hallway.
to one's discomfort
1/tə wˈʌnz dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
fixed phrase
formal
resulting in someone’s discomfort
Used to say that something makes a person feel discomfort, often in a polite or formal way.
Examples
- To his discomfort, everyone in the room turned to look at him.
- She discovered, to her discomfort, that her microphone had been on the whole time.