uncomfortable

[ uhn-kuhmf-tuh-buhl, -kuhm-fer-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. causing discomfort or distress; painful; irritating.
2. in a state of discomfort; uneasy; conscious of stress or strain.

   Synonyms: strained, nervous, awkward

uncomfortable

/ ʌnˈkʌmftəbəl /

adjective

1. not comfortable
2. feeling or causing discomfort or unease; disquieting

Derived Forms

• unˈcomfortableness, noun
• unˈcomfortably, adverb

Other Words From

• un·comfort·a·ble·ness noun
• un·comfort·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncomfortable¹

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + comfortable

Example Sentences

She remembers experiencing a "really uncomfortable feeling" in her stomach at that moment.

From BBC

“He made me feel very uncomfortable,” Auty says.

From BBC

This chilling response underscores an uncomfortable reality: Immigrants do not live in isolation.

From Los Angeles Times

Candidates who will, in the words of centrist New York Times columnist David Brooks, “make people like me feel uncomfortable.”

From Slate

I get so uncomfortable with praise.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• angry
• annoyed
• awkward
• confused
• embarrassed
• fatigued
• harsh
• miserable
• nervous
• restless
• self-conscious
• tired
• uneasy
• weary