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Synonyms

uncomfortable

American  
[uhn-kuhmf-tuh-buhl, -kuhm-fer-tuh-buhl] / ʌnˈkʌmf tə bəl, -ˈkʌm fər tə bəl /

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 British  
/ ʌnˈkʌmftəbəl /

adjective

  1. not comfortable

  2. feeling or causing discomfort or unease; disquieting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • uncomfortableness noun
  • uncomfortably adverb

Etymology

Origin of uncomfortable

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

State visits can be uncomfortable, joyful, tense and unifying - in the space of just a few days.

From BBC

Analyzing your monthly spending is the essential — and admittedly uncomfortable — first step to building a budget.

From MarketWatch

"We will follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will not flinch from uncomfortable truths."

From BBC

The air on the plane is stuffy, uncomfortable.

From Literature

They’re always there lately, the ones that make me feel queasy and make me sweat in uncomfortable places.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.