Meaning & use

uncomfortable

adjective·Everyday

Causing or experiencing physical unease, such as pain or awkward pressure, rather than ease.

See it in a sentence

The wooden chair grew uncomfortable after we had been sitting on it for over an hour.

He felt uncomfortable answering personal questions in front of his coworkers.

A note on using this word

Uncomfortable can describe physical sensation or social awkwardness; context usually makes the intended sense clear.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Feeling or causing awkwardness, embarrassment, or tension in a social situation.

There was an uncomfortable silence after she asked about his recent divorce.

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