uncomfortable

/ʌnˈkʌmftəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈkʌmftəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈkəm(p)(f)-tər-bəl, -ˈkəm(p)(f)-tə-bəl, -ˈkəm(p)-fər-tə-bəl -ˈkəm(p)-fə-tə-bəl, -ˈkəm-fər-bəl, -ˈkəm-fə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

uncomfortable — adjective

  • uncomfortablepositive
  • more uncomfortablecomparative
  • most uncomfortablesuperlative

1. causing or experiencing physical unease, such as from a chair that is too hard,

1.形容詞B1
釋義

causing or experiencing physical unease, such as from a chair that is too hard, clothes that pinch or rub, or a room that is too hot or too cold

例句

Talia felt uncomfortable on the hard wooden bench after just five minutes.

feel + uncomfortable + on + [surface]

Jin returned the shoes because the stiff leather made his heels uncomfortable.

uncomfortable describing a body part's reaction

同義詞
  • painful

    much stronger; means actual physical hurt rather than mere unease

  • tight

    describes specific cause (clothing pressing against the body), not the general feeling

  • cramped

    describes lack of space rather than a general feeling of physical unease

反義詞
  • comfortable

    direct opposite — providing or experiencing physical ease

  • soft

    describes a positive physical quality of surfaces, opposite of hard

文法句型

feel + uncomfortable + on/in + noun

uncomfortable + noun (chair, bed, shoes, clothes)

find + noun + uncomfortable

用法筆記

When describing the cause of physical discomfort, you put uncomfortable before the noun (an uncomfortable chair); when describing how someone feels, you use it after a linking verb (Talia felt uncomfortable).

常見錯誤

❌This sofa is uncomfortable to sit on it.
✅This sofa is uncomfortable to sit on.
💡do not add a pronoun after the infinitive when the object is already the subject of the sentence.
❌The bed was uncomfortable for sleeping in the night.
✅The bed was uncomfortable to sleep on.
💡use 'to + verb' rather than 'for + gerund' after this adjective.

2. feeling awkward, nervous, or slightly ashamed in a social situation, for example

2.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling awkward, nervous, or slightly ashamed in a social situation, for example when the conversation is tense, there is an awkward silence, or a difficult topic is discussed

例句

An uncomfortable silence filled the room after Anong's unexpected question.

uncomfortable + noun (silence) describing a situation

Liam felt uncomfortable about telling his manager that the report still had mistakes.

feel uncomfortable about + V-ing

同義詞
  • awkward

    focuses on the social situation being clumsy or embarrassing, not the person's inner feeling

  • embarrassed

    stronger; implies shame or loss of dignity, not just unease

  • uneasy

    very close in meaning, but carries a slight sense of worry about what might happen next

反義詞
  • relaxed

    calm and at ease in a social situation

  • comfortable

    direct opposite — feeling at ease and confident

文法句型

feel + uncomfortable + about + noun/gerund

feel + uncomfortable + with + noun

uncomfortable + noun (silence, conversation, situation)

用法筆記

Commonly followed by about (focus on a decision or action) or with (focus on a person, arrangement, or ongoing situation). 'Uncomfortable with' often implies ongoing tension, while 'uncomfortable about' suggests hesitation regarding a specific choice.

常見錯誤

❌I am uncomfortable to ask for help.
✅I feel uncomfortable about asking for help.
💡use 'uncomfortable about + V-ing', not 'uncomfortable + to-infinitive'.
❌The silence made me uncomfortable from the room.
✅The silence in the room made me feel uncomfortable.
💡the cause of discomfort is a noun subject, not introduced by 'from'.