Discomfort Meaning and Definition
Discomfort
Pronunciation
/ˈdɪskəmft/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A feeling of unease, tension, or distress, often caused by a situation, environment, or circumstance that is unpleasant or difficult to bear.
Examples
- The passenger experienced discomfort during the turbulent flight.
- The patient felt discomfort in his hip after the surgery.
Synonyms
- Pain
- Irksomeness
Antonyms
- Composure
- Contentment
Etymology
The word “Discomfort” comes from the Old French words “des” meaning “uncomfortable” and “confort” meaning “comfort”, with the suffix “-ment” indicating a condition or state.
Usage Notes
Use “Discomfort” to describe a feeling of unease or distress that is generally not physical in nature, such as anxiety or unease in a social situation. Avoid using the word to describe physical pain or discomfort unless it is specifically intended to convey a psychological or emotional aspect to the feeling.
Cultural References
The phrase “to be at discomfort” is often used in literature and film to describe a character’s unease or anxiety in a particular situation.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- In discomfort
- A source of discomfort
Related Words or Phrases
- Uncomfortable
- Irksome
- Tension
Collocations
- Feeling of discomfort
- A source of discomfort
Frequency of Use
“Discomfort” is a moderate-frequency word, commonly used in everyday conversation and writing.
Common Misspellings
- Discomforte
- Discomforty