discomfort
UK: dɪsˈkʌmfət | US: dɪsˈkʌmfərt
n. a feeling of slight pain or physical unease
n. a state of mental or emotional uneasiness
vt. to cause someone to feel uneasy or mildly distressed
The word "discomfort" combines the Latin-derived prefix dis- (meaning "apart" or "negation") with the Old French root comfort (from confortare, "to strengthen"). Originally, "comfort" implied physical or mental fortification, while dis- inverted this to denote the absence of ease. Over time, "discomfort" narrowed to describe mild pain or unease, reflecting a softer contrast to outright "pain."
The hard chair caused her significant discomfort during the long meeting.
He tried to hide his discomfort when discussing the sensitive topic.
The patient reported slight discomfort after the procedure.
Social discomfort often arises in unfamiliar settings.
The tight shoes left her in constant discomfort.