discomfort
gb/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/ us/dɪskˈʌmfɚt/
B1
English
~ 8100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
mild physical pain or unease
A small, unpleasant feeling in your body, like light pain or pressure, not strong enough to be called real pain.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels discomfort in [a body part]
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.
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.)
Collocations
feel discomfort
|physical discomfort
|mild discomfort
|abdominal discomfort
|cause discomfort
|relieve discomfort
Themes
health
|daily_life
|medicine
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt a sharp discomfort in her lower back after lifting the box.
- If you experience any chest discomfort, contact your doctor immediately.
- 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.
- The tight shoes give me discomfort when I walk.
- 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.
Noun
B2
state
2
emotional or social unease
A bad feeling when you feel nervous, shy, or not relaxed in a situation or when talking about something difficult.
Usage pattern:
[someone's] discomfort with [a situation or topic]
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.
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.)
Collocations
social discomfort
|emotional discomfort
|visible discomfort
|discomfort with [something]
|cause discomfort
|express discomfort
Themes
emotions
|social
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His discomfort with public speaking was obvious as he avoided eye contact with the audience.
- The interviewer noticed her discomfort when the topic of salary came up.
- 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.
- I feel discomfort when I speak English in front of many people.
- 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.
Noun
B2
state
3
state of not being comfortable
The general situation when you are not comfortable, for example because a place is too hot, too cold, crowded, or not convenient.
Usage pattern:
the discomfort of [an activity or condition]
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*.
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.)
Collocations
the discomfort of [travel]
|cold and discomfort
|noise and discomfort
|minor discomfort
|hours of discomfort
|long-term discomfort
Themes
daily_life
|travel
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We apologize for any discomfort caused during the building work.
- He endured the discomfort of the long, crowded train ride without complaining.
- 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.
- The bus was full, and the trip was three hours of discomfort.
- 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.
Verb
formal
C1
action
4
to make someone feel uneasy
To make a person feel not comfortable, for example by making them feel a little pain, shy, or worried.
Usage pattern:
[something] discomforts [someone]
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.
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.)
Collocations
deeply discomforts
|discomforts some readers
|morally discomforts
|visibly discomforts
|intensely discomforts
Themes
emotions
|social
|formal
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The graphic descriptions may discomfort some readers.
- He was clearly discomforted by the personal nature of the questions.
- 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.
- Her direct words discomforted the guests.
- These photos may discomfort some people.
- The idea of change discomforts many workers.
- The story discomforted the audience in the room.
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.