uncomfortable
gb/ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl/ us/ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Causing bodily unease or pain
Making your body feel bad or not at ease.
Usage pattern:
[something] is uncomfortable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'uncomfortable' with 'inconvenient', but 'uncomfortable' describes a feeling in your body or emotions, while 'inconvenient' means causing trouble or difficulty.
Synonyms
uneasy (Can refer to both physical and emotional discomfort, but here mostly physical.)
|
awkward (Can describe physical discomfort, but often also social situations.)
Antonyms
comfortable (Describes something that makes you feel physically relaxed and at ease.)
Collocations
uncomfortable chair
|uncomfortable shoes
|uncomfortable bed
|uncomfortable temperature
Themes
daily life
|health
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The sofa was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sit for more than ten minutes.
- These shoes are really uncomfortable to walk in.
- The heat made the room uncomfortable for everyone.
Learner examples
- This chair is uncomfortable.
- My shoes are uncomfortable.
- The bed is uncomfortable.
adjective
B1
property
2
Causing emotional or social awkwardness
Making you feel shy, worried, or not relaxed around people or in a situation.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels uncomfortable [about/with something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'nervous' instead of 'uncomfortable'; 'nervous' is more about fear or anxiety, while 'uncomfortable' can be milder and include awkwardness.
Synonyms
awkward (Often used for socially uneasy situations.)
|
embarrassed (Specifically means feeling self-conscious or ashamed; more intense than 'uncomfortable'.)
Antonyms
at ease (Feeling relaxed and comfortable in a situation.)
Collocations
uncomfortable silence
|uncomfortable question
|feel uncomfortable
Themes
emotions
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I felt uncomfortable when they started arguing in front of me.
- She looked uncomfortable during the interview.
- There was an uncomfortable silence after his comment.
Learner examples
- I feel uncomfortable when I talk to strangers.
- He was uncomfortable at the party.
- The question made her uncomfortable.
adjective
B2
state
3
Feeling concerned or uneasy about something happening
Not happy or not sure about something that is happening or might happen.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is uncomfortable [with/about something]
Synonyms
uneasy (Slightly more formal; often used for mild worry or concern.)
Antonyms
confident (Feeling sure and positive about a situation.)
Collocations
uncomfortable truth
|uncomfortable reality
Themes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He was uncomfortable with the idea of lying to his friends.
- I'm uncomfortable about investing so much money in one company.
- She seemed uncomfortable discussing her personal life.
Learner examples
- I am uncomfortable with this plan.
- She is uncomfortable about the news.
- He feels uncomfortable talking about money.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uncomfortable
IPA
GB/ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl/
US/ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl/
Syllables & stress
un - com - fort - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (com)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: uncomfortable
Word family
Core family
Related words
discomfort
noun B1
Expressions
an uncomfortable silence
1/ən ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl sˈaɪləns/
fixed phrase
Awkward quiet moment
A time when no one talks and it feels strange or bad.
Examples
- There was an uncomfortable silence after she left the room.
- He broke the uncomfortable silence with a joke.
feel uncomfortable with/about something
1/fˈil ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl wˈɪθəbˌaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Experience unease about something
To have a bad or worried feeling about something.
Examples
- I feel uncomfortable with this decision.
- She felt uncomfortable about meeting his parents.
make someone uncomfortable
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn ʌŋkˈʌmfɚtəbəl/
fixed phrase
Cause someone to feel uneasy
To make a person feel not relaxed, either in their body or in their mind.
Examples
- His comments made me uncomfortable.
- The chair made her uncomfortable after an hour of sitting.