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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

discomfit

Verb

IPA /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

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Meaning in plain English

To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.

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Pronunciation

discomfit/dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

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  1. A speaker initially seems confident

  2. An unexpected question unsettles them

  3. They become embarrassed and uncertain

An awkward question can discomfit an otherwise confident speaker.

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Examples in context

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  1. The unexpected question discomfited the boastful guest.
  2. The examiner's silence discomfited the student.

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To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.
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discomfit — To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.

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To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.

Compare: The unexpected question discomfited the boastful guest.

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Word origin

From Old French desconfire, originally associated with defeat in battle.

Did you know?

Discomfited is used to describe the person who feels unsettled.

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discomfit

/dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/ (Verb)

“Discomfit is literary or formal. Embarrass or unsettle is usually more natural in everyday conversation.”

englishskillstudio.com