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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of uncomfortable
Each one unfolded with that same uncomfortable rhythm.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The calls suggest that at least some in the clerical establishment are uncomfortable with leaving a three-man council in charge — even temporarily under constitutional rules — after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—Pia Singh,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2026
How scammers got your email address Here is the uncomfortable truth.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Nuno had signed a new contract on June 20 and was expected to work under Edu, the new global head of football for Marinakis’ football empire — Forest, Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese team Rio Ave — but the former Wolves manager quickly became uncomfortable with the new structure.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncomfortable
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The calls suggest that at least some in the clerical establishment are uncomfortable with leaving a three-man council in charge — even temporarily under constitutional rules — after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—Pia Singh,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2026
How scammers got your email address Here is the uncomfortable truth.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Nuno had signed a new contract on June 20 and was expected to work under Edu, the new global head of football for Marinakis’ football empire — Forest, Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese team Rio Ave — but the former Wolves manager quickly became uncomfortable with the new structure.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncomfortable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncomfortable
Adjective
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Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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Audrey Sterk of Audrey Sterk Design teamed up with Chip Webster Architecture and Reid Builders to use durable composite countertops and weather-resistant cabinetry to ensure this outdoor kitchen will last, even in this harsh island environment.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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To be honest, even with the public spectacle of a trial now taken off CAA’s plate, most of Musero’s case had been trimmed back in June last year (see below), so a lot of what could have taken place on the record and in public would have been somewhere between embarrassing and performative.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
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The reasons for this cautious response are many, ranging from the precarious diplomatic implications of the conflict, disruptions to its energy security, and the embarrassing implications of allowing an ally to be destroyed.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Many travelers feel 'uneasy' about going abroad.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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The United States and Israel’s widening war with Iran has stricken an already uneasy global economy with a new bout of uncertainty.—
Mirtha Donastorg,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Similarly, the Polar Loop blends right in at the gym but sticks out like a sore thumb when paired with a fancy outfit for a night on the town.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
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My thumb is sore from all the scrolling and refreshing.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Our awkward hero copes with grief through humor while navigating relationships with her type-A sister (Sian Clifford), her nasty stepmother (Olivia Colman), and, in season 2, a hot priest (Andrew Scott).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
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This profound snow drought comes at an especially awkward time, compounding a quarter-century of regional aridification that has drained the nation’s two largest reservoirs to precarious depths.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But weighting the draft odds is a delicate business — and one the Bulls remain committed to approaching with a clumsy commitment to competitiveness.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Kurt's key takeaway Scammers are no longer relying only on clumsy emails or obvious red flags.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On the journey, she gets drawn into her own family’s history and trauma and uncovers a painful legacy that hovers like a dark cloud over the women in the family.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
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Good opposing coaches pants him every time (Loyola, of course, being a particularly painful example).—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This unpleasant odor, Smith explained, is the result of something called asparagusic acid, which is unique to the vegetable.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
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In addition to unpleasant flavors, how your flour smells or looks can indicate spoilage.—
Hannah Lee Leidy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Uncomfortable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncomfortable. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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