uncomfortably

/ʌnˈkʌmftəbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈkʌmftəbli/ (ame, ipa)

uncomfortably — adverb

1. causing or involving bodily discomfort — a chair may be uncomfortably hard, a ro

1.副詞B1
釋義

causing or involving bodily discomfort — a chair may be uncomfortably hard, a room uncomfortably hot, or a person uncomfortably cramped.

例句

Romi sat uncomfortably on the hard wooden bench throughout the two-hour lecture.

adverb of manner modifying 'sat' — physical position

The thick woollen sweater made Yumi feel uncomfortably hot during the bus ride.

同義詞
  • painfully

    stronger, implies actual pain rather than mere discomfort

  • uneasily

    can overlap with physical sense but is more common for emotional discomfort

反義詞
  • comfortably

    the direct opposite — in a physically pleasant way

文法句型

uncomfortably + adjective (hot, cold, tight, hard)

verb + uncomfortably (sit, lie, stand)

用法筆記

Commonly pairs with adjectives describing temperature or physical sensation (hot, cold, tight, hard, warm) and with verbs of bodily position (sit, lie, stand, sleep).

常見錯誤

❌The chair is uncomfortably' (adjective form needed).
✅The chair is uncomfortably hard.
💡'uncomfortably' is an adverb and must modify an adjective or verb, not stand alone.

2. reflecting or producing a feeling of social unease — a silence may feel uncomfor

2.副詞B1
釋義

reflecting or producing a feeling of social unease — a silence may feel uncomfortably long, or a person may react uncomfortably to a direct question.

例句

When Rachid mentioned the broken vase, an uncomfortably long silence followed.

uncomfortably + adjective (long) describing a social atmosphere

Élise laughed uncomfortably after accidentally calling her teacher by the wrong name.

同義詞
  • awkwardly

    more socially focused; describes clumsy or strained interaction

  • uneasily

    suggests nervousness or anxiety rather than just embarrassment

  • embarrassedly

    stronger, implies shame rather than mild awkwardness

反義詞

文法句型

uncomfortably + adjective (quiet, silent, long)

verb + uncomfortably (laugh, smile, shift)

用法筆記

Often describes the atmosphere of a situation (quiet, silent, long) or a person's reaction to social tension (laugh, smile, glance). Distinguished from sense 1 by involving social embarrassment rather than physical sensation.

常見錯誤

❌I felt uncomfortably when nobody spoke.
✅I felt uncomfortable when nobody spoke.
💡use the adjective 'uncomfortable' after linking verbs (feel, seem, look); 'uncomfortably' is the adverb.