discomfort, discomfit, discomfiture

discomfort, discomfit, discomfiture
The first of these words is widely used to refer to lack of comfort, uneasiness, and even mild pain: "His wet clothing caused him considerable discomfort." "Her distress over missing the train made her feel some discomfort."Discomfiture, a much stronger term, means "rout," "complete overthrow," "utter defeat": "The downfall of the government caused discomfiture throughout the nation." When you suffer discomfiture, you also experience discomfort, but discomfort alone rarely results in discomfiture. Discomfit, a verb only, means "to defeat," "to thwart," "to confuse," "to disconcert": "This direct question will discomfit the speaker."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • discomfit — See discomfort, discomfit, discomfiture …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • discomfiture — See discomfort, discomfit, discomfiture …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • discomfort — See discomfort, discomfit, discomfiture …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • discomfit —  , discomfort   In this she is greatly assisted by her husband... who enjoys spreading discomfiture in a good cause as much as she does (Observer). The writer here, like many before him, clearly meant discomfort, which has nothing in common with… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • discomfort — [n] irritation, pain ache, annoyance, discomfiture, discomposure, displeasure, disquiet, distress, embarrassment, hardship, hurt, inquietude, malaise, nuisance, soreness, trouble, uneasiness, unpleasantness, upset, vexation; concepts 410,728 Ant …   New thesaurus

  • discomfit, discomfort —     In this she is greatly assisted by her husband ... who enjoys spreading discomfiture in a good cause as much as she does (Observer). The writer here, like many before him, clearly meant discomfort, which has nothing in common with… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • discomfit, discomfort —     In this she is greatly assisted by her husband ... who enjoys spreading discomfiture in a good cause as much as she does (Observer). The writer here, like many before him, clearly meant discomfort, which has nothing in common with… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • discomfort — 1. noun 1) abdominal discomfort Syn: pain, aches and pains, soreness, tenderness, irritation, stiffness; ache, twinge, pang, throb, cramp 2) the discomforts of life at sea Syn …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • bother — Synonyms and related words: abash, abrade, abuse a privilege, addle, addle the wits, ado, afflict, aggravate, aggravation, agitate, agitation, ail, annoy, annoyance, anxiety, awkwardness, bad news, badger, baffle, bafflement, bait, ball up, be at …   Moby Thesaurus

  • fluster — Synonyms and related words: addle, addle the wits, ado, agitate, agitation, baffle, bafflement, ball up, becloud, bedazzle, befuddle, befuddlement, bewilder, bewilderment, bluff, bluster, bluster and bluff, blustering, boastfulness, bobbery, boil …   Moby Thesaurus

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