uncomfortable
Squirming in place
Uncomfortable describes physical or psychological unease.
An uncomfortable chair causes bodily discomfort; an uncomfortable silence creates social tension.
The word often signals mild distress rather than pain: I felt uncomfortable being the only man in the room.
To make someone uncomfortable is to put them ill at ease.
Something uncomfortable with a situation finds it troubling or objectionable.
Painful or annoyed
- achingExperiencing dull pain
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
- stiffNot easily bent
chafing · pinching · restrictive · constricting · binding · squeezing · itchy · sweaty
Lacking grace or ease
- embarrassedSelf-consciously uncomfortable
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- out-of-placeNot fitting the surroundings
- ill-at-easeExperiencing social discomfort
cringing · blushing · flustered · sheepish · tongue-tied · stilted · strained · forced
Troubled, not calm
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- tenseStrained or nervous
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
distressed · troubled · worried · on-edge · unsettled · agitated · stressed · fretful
Strained or nervous
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
- fraughtFull of difficulty
- chargedFormally accused of crime
- difficultRequiring much effort
delicate · sticky · thorny · prickly · touchy · sensitive · contentious · confrontational
Causing discomfort or distaste
- disagreeableCausing mild displeasure
- off-puttingCausing mild aversion
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
- gratingCrossed bars or harsh
irritating · bothersome · irksome · vexing · annoying · distasteful · unwelcome · uninviting
sore
Painful or annoyed
stiff · chafing · pinching · restrictive · constricting · binding · squeezing · itchy · sweaty · clammy
awkward
Lacking grace or ease
- embarrassedSelf-consciously uncomfortable
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- out-of-placeNot fitting the surroundings
ill-at-ease · cringing · blushing · flustered · sheepish · tongue-tied · stilted · strained · forced · wooden
uneasy
Troubled, not calm
apprehensive · distressed · troubled · worried · on-edge · unsettled · agitated · stressed · fretful · perturbed
tense
Strained or nervous
difficult · delicate · sticky · thorny · prickly · touchy · sensitive · contentious · confrontational · hostile
unpleasant
Causing discomfort or distaste
- disagreeableCausing mild displeasure
- off-puttingCausing mild aversion
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
grating · irritating · bothersome · irksome · vexing · annoying · distasteful · unwelcome · uninviting · disconcerting
- U-wordsugly, ultimate, ultra, umbrella, unable
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
- socially awkwardshy, nervous, tongue-tied, social anxiety, shyness
- Ride Qualitysmoothness, handling, suspension, bumpy, harsh
- ___ silencedeathly, eerie, awkward, stunned, deafening
- body language descriptorsopen, closed, tense, relaxed, stiff
- uncomfortable sensationFeeling of bodily distress