as in embarrassment
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable
blushed and lowered her eyes in evident discomfiture
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Recent Examples of discomfiture
The actor enhances his character’s long inner monologues with his eloquent ice-blue eyes, which can convey emotions ranging from disdain and discomfiture to despair and devotion.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 May 2025
Dolan’s discomfiture is understandable, as cord-cutting was already doing a number on the legacy RSN model well before the NBA began beefing up its national TV slate at the expense of the local sports channels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Everywhere, Ryback says, the cartoonists and editorialists delighted in Hitler’s discomfiture.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
Back in the States, Frankie suffers from terrifying episodes of PTSD, from society’s refusal to believe that women served in the conflict and from her own parents’ discomfiture over her service.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Kedar is sung after eight o’clock in the evening, and to sing it at twilight, at six o’clock, would create slight discomfiture.
—Amit Chaudhuri, Harper's Magazine, 16 Mar. 2021
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 May 2025
Dolan’s discomfiture is understandable, as cord-cutting was already doing a number on the legacy RSN model well before the NBA began beefing up its national TV slate at the expense of the local sports channels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Everywhere, Ryback says, the cartoonists and editorialists delighted in Hitler’s discomfiture.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
Back in the States, Frankie suffers from terrifying episodes of PTSD, from society’s refusal to believe that women served in the conflict and from her own parents’ discomfiture over her service.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Kedar is sung after eight o’clock in the evening, and to sing it at twilight, at six o’clock, would create slight discomfiture.
—Amit Chaudhuri, Harper's Magazine, 16 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discomfiture
Noun
-
The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Nectar Hard Seltzer has been partnering with influencer Kelly Kim to get people to reframe the alcohol flush reaction some people experience, to turn it into a beauty moment instead of embarrassment.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Last year, Kennedy’s ACIP didn’t issue a guidance on COVID vaccines until September, then softened the recommendations for their use, sowing confusion as pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and patients tried to figure out who was eligible for the shots and whether insurers would pay.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
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Lost in the Brazilian tears, anguish and confusion was just how clinical the Germans had been.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Noun
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Teenagers today are consuming endless streams of violent content, ideological rage, conspiracy theories, humiliation culture and social isolation through digital platforms that reward outrage and emotional instability.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
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Whatever pleasure could be had in Nate’s comeuppance was undone by his humiliation dragging out for hours before being put out of his misery; Cassie’s next act as a hype-house doyenne is only handwaved at, and any responsibility for Nate’s unpaid debts handwaved entirely.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discomfiture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discomfiture. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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