discomfited
discomfited — verb
- discomfitedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- discomfiteds3rd person singular
- discomfiteding-ing form
- discomfitededpast simple
1. feeling awkward, confused, or embarrassed, especially because of something unexp
feeling awkward, confused, or embarrassed, especially because of something unexpected that leaves one unsure how to react.
Arjun was visibly discomfited by the sudden question about his past job.
passive: be discomfited by [unexpected event]
The teacher's direct praise discomfited the shy boy, who stared at his desk.
animate subject + direct object discomfits + person
Emre looked discomfited when no one laughed at his joke during the meeting.
Charlotte was discomfited at the sight of her own name on the complaint form.
Nala felt discomfited by her friend's angry tone and did not know what to say.
- embarrass
more common in everyday speech; focuses on feelings of shame or awkwardness in front of others
- disconcert
very close in meaning; emphasises the feeling of being thrown off balance mentally
- unsettle
suggests a lingering unease rather than a sudden awkward moment
- fluster
more informal; describes nervous confusion, often in a busy or pressured situation
文法句型
be discomfited by [unexpected event]
be discomfited at [something seen/heard]
look/feel/seem discomfited
[noun] leaves [person] discomfited
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice (be discomfited). The cause of the discomfort is introduced with by or at. This is a formal word; in everyday conversation, embarrassed or uncomfortable are more common.
常見錯誤
discomfited — noun
1. the unpleasant mental state that occurs when a person feels confused or socially
the unpleasant mental state that occurs when a person feels confused or socially awkward, typically after being caught off guard by an unexpected event.
To Ezra's profound discomfiture, the entire assembled company had witnessed his error projected upon the great screen in the boardroom.
prepositional phrase: to [one's] discomfiture
A profound discomfiture settled upon the ambassador when none of his carefully prepared remarks drew any response from the gathering.
Lady Kensington endeavoured to conceal her discomfiture behind a painted fan, though a deep blush betrayed her.
Colonel Ashby felt a pang of discomfiture when he addressed the viscount's daughter by the wrong title at the ball.
Oliver's discomfiture was complete when the magistrate fixed him with a cold stare and repeated the question with studied patience.
- discomfiture
the standard, more common noun form; preferred in modern formal writing
- embarrassment
more widely used; focuses on the social dimension of awkwardness
- confusion
emphasises the mental aspect of not knowing how to react
- composure
calmness and self-control in a social situation
- confidence
the feeling of being sure of oneself and at ease
文法句型
to [one's] discomfiture
[possessive] discomfiture [was] [adjective]
a [adjective] discomfiture settled upon [someone]
conceal/hide [one's] discomfiture
a pang / wave of discomfiture
用法筆記
The standard noun form of this word is discomfiture. The form 'discomfited' (used as a noun) is an archaic literary variant that was historically common but is now very rare in modern English. Contemporary writing almost always uses discomfiture instead, and the examples below follow the modern standard.