ˌən-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tər-bəl
1
as in harsh
causing discomfort
unfortunately, dressing up for the dance meant wearing an uncomfortable shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
the uncomfortable situation of running into an ex-friend at a social gathering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uneasy
lacking social grace and assurance
a person who is uncomfortable at parties with lots of strangers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of uncomfortable
But has Barack Obama ever been willing to be uncomfortable in defense of his values?
—
Grace Curley, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
Trump has always been uncomfortable with the give and take of alliance politics.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
During the band's Boston stop on their Music of the Spheres world tour July 16, frontman Chris Martin provided commentary as a concert camera panned to a couple embracing, before the moment quickly went from romantic to uncomfortable.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The edges push out his lip flaps, almost appearing uncomfortable.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncomfortable
Grace Curley, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
Trump has always been uncomfortable with the give and take of alliance politics.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
During the band's Boston stop on their Music of the Spheres world tour July 16, frontman Chris Martin provided commentary as a concert camera panned to a couple embracing, before the moment quickly went from romantic to uncomfortable.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The edges push out his lip flaps, almost appearing uncomfortable.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncomfortable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncomfortable
Adjective
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The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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After the embarrassing clip of the coworkers went beyond viral, both resigned from their positions at the AI tech company.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
30 July 2025
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The recordings also contain what would be some embarrassing moments, like the time when, as a young congressman, Bentsen called for a widespread nuclear attack on North Korea before the end of the Korean War.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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She Rides Shotgun begins with one uneasy situation and ends on quite another, and the two hours in between are anything but comfortable.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
31 July 2025
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Step 3: Open the door and actually listen Senior leaders should become more visible, Burke says, especially to help coach managers who feel uneasy addressing tough topics.—
Alyshia Hull,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Richardson, who was dealing with a sore right ankle during summer league practices in Orlando, exited early in the third quarter, but was able to return in the final frame.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 July 2025
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Chisholm missed five weeks toward the beginning of the season with a right oblique strain, then sat out of Sunday’s Subway Series finale at Citi Field for a sore right shoulder.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The house was a little awkward and needed some work, including in the living room, which had a mix of original wood flooring and vinyl.—
Thomas Fuller,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Once Mercury goes direct on Aug. 11, the awkward conversations or delays with friends or teammates start to smooth out.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Dream plays are difficult to execute—whimsy is easily crushed by clumsy handling.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
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Despite a clumsy apology tour, Hogan was never able to completely shake his darkest moment.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Higher temperatures can be too hot for a dog’s paw pads and, in some cases, can cause painful burns.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
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Some people will also get deeper nodules and cysts that are painful or tender to the touch.2 Ice can be very effective at alleviating pain and reducing inflammation.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Disruptions in the ratio, like when there’s too much estrogen vs. testosterone, can cause unpleasant symptoms like weight gain, mood swings, and fatigue.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
1 Aug. 2025
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Tribalism can and does spill over into much more unpleasant areas, from basic name-calling to more insidious abuse.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uncomfortable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncomfortable. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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