Discomfiting
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/
adjectiveC1present participle (used as adjective)
Definition
Discomfiting describes a feeling or situation that makes a person feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused. It often happens when something unexpected or awkward occurs, causing discomfort or loss of confidence.
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See It in Action
Causing emotional discomfort or awkwardness
- •The sudden silence after his comment was discomfiting for everyone.
- •Her discomfiting stare made me lose my confidence.
- •It was discomfiting to realize I had forgotten the important meeting.
Making someone feel uneasy or unsure
- •The discomfiting questions from the interviewer threw him off balance.
- •There was a discomfiting feeling in the room after the announcement.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "discomfiting" like "uncomfortable," but stronger and often with confusion or embarrassment mixed in.
- ✓Picture sitting in a quiet room and suddenly everyone looks at you unexpectedly—this sudden awkward feeling is discomfiting.
- ✓It's the feeling when you are not sure what to say or do because something surprises or embarrasses you.
- ✓Sounds like "this COMFY thing" but the opposite—imagine expecting comfort but getting the opposite, a feeling that makes you restless.
- ✓Imagine a story where a character is caught in a tricky question and feels nervous and unsure—that feeling is discomfiting.
- ✓NOT like "comfortable" (pleasant and easy), discomfiting makes you want to escape or avoid the situation.
- ✓NOT like "confusing" alone; discomfiting includes discomfort and emotional unease, not just not understanding.
- ✓NOT like "embarrassing" only; discomfiting can be more about feeling unsettled or disturbed inside.
Try Other Words
- •Unsettling: causing worry or nervousness (Use when the situation causes nervous feelings or doubt)
- •Awkward: causing embarrassment or difficulty in social situations (Use when the feeling is about social embarrassment)
- •Disturbing: causing worry or upset (Use when the feeling is more serious or troubling)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (not, opposite) + root "comfit" (from Old French "conforter," meaning to comfort or strengthen) + suffix "-ing" (present participle form)
- •Etymology: From Old French "desconfire," meaning to defeat or confuse; originally used to mean causing confusion or defeat
- •Historical development: The word evolved from meaning to defeat or frustrate someone to meaning causing discomfort or unease
- •Modern usage: Used as an adjective to describe feelings or situations that make people feel uneasy, embarrassed, or mentally unsettled
Reflect & Connect
•Can a situation be discomfiting without being embarrassing? How?
•How do you react when you feel discomfited? What helps you feel comfortable again?
Fill in the blanks
1.The discomfiting silence after his unexpected question made everyone ___ what to say next.
2.She felt discomfiting ___ when the attention suddenly turned to her mistake.
3.Unlike simple confusion, discomfiting moments often mix surprise and ___.
4.He tried to ignore the discomfiting feeling, but it ___ his confidence during the meeting.
5.The interviewer’s discomfiting questions made the candidate ___ his usual calm.
6.Discomfiting situations often cause people to feel ___ and unsure about their next step.
7.When the room grew quiet after the joke, the discomfiting atmosphere ___ a sense of awkwardness.