uncomfortable

adjective

un·​com·​fort·​able

ˌən-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tər-bəl, 

-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tə-bəl, 

-ˈkəm(p)-fər-tə-bəl 

-ˈkəm(p)-fə-tə-bəl, 

-ˈkəm-fər-bəl, 

-ˈkəm-fə-bəl

1

: causing discomfort or annoyance

an uncomfortable chair

an uncomfortable performance

2

: feeling discomfort : uneasy

was uncomfortable with them

uncomfortably

ˌən-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tər-blē, 

-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tə-blē, 

-ˈkəm(p)-fər-tə-blē 

-ˈkəm(p)-fə-tə-blē, 

-ˈkəm-fər-blē, 

-ˈkəm-fə-blē

adverb

Synonyms of uncomfortable

• harsh
• sore
• awkward
• painful
• miserable
• discomforting
• torturous
• comfortless
• disturbing

Examples of uncomfortable in a Sentence

You look uncomfortable in that chair. Would you like to sit here instead?

The silence went on so long that it became very uncomfortable.

We were in the uncomfortable position of asking for money.

I was uncomfortable about talking to them.

She's uncomfortable being in the spotlight.

Recent Examples on the Web

After consulting with the Ravens’ team physician — and those of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants — DeCosta became uncomfortable with the prognosis. —Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

No longer in the context of the coffee shop, the manager looked uncomfortable and out of place, his power diminished, an average guy in a bad suit, who had had to take time off from his job to come downtown to a federal office in an Art Deco building. —Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026

The Chiefs had to escape this weekend with an improved ability to make an opposing quarterback uncomfortable. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

Won’t that be a bit uncomfortable for the British king? —Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for uncomfortable

• comfortable

Kids Definition

uncomfortable

adjective

un·​com·​fort·​able ˌən-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tə(r)-bəl 

-ˈkəm(p)-fə(r)t-ə-bəl, 

ˈən-

1

: causing discomfort

an uncomfortable chair

2

: feeling discomfort : uneasy

uncomfortably

-blē 

adverb