DISCOMFITING Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

discomfiting 1 of 2

adjective

as in embarrassing

causing embarrassment the discomfiting scrutiny of an audience of music critics

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

discomfiting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of discomfit

as in frustrating

to prevent from achieving a goal constant interruptions discomfited her in her attempt to finish the speech, and she finally gave up

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in confusing

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress he was discomfited by the awkward situation of having his ex-girlfriend meet his current one

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of discomfiting

Adjective

What develops is a discomfiting, emotionally intense exploration of intimacy between the two men, rooted in the traumatic, troubled origins of their student-teacher bond. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026 Plotting a linear, sinking trajectory, Kreutzer’s discomfiting film describes no such buoyant highs and lows. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2026 And sometimes that gaze is just discomfiting, full stop. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026 Here, the sado-sensual yearning of the Confederacy to instantiate itself through the fetishes and reliquaries of figurative sculpture is shown as hollow, impotent, all too discomfiting, and very real. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 Digitally tweaked to fit the syncopated rhythm and stay on key, Weir’s vocals have a discomfiting quality that’s almost certainly unintentional—especially considering how often the beauty of the Dead lied in their very human imperfections. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026 The uptick in concern about taste is both surprising and discomfiting, because the word comes with particular generational baggage. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026 Macfadyen especially allows Guiteau to walk a challenging tightrope, discomfiting and intensely unlikable but never exactly unmoored from reality, never too far gone into easy, inhuman evil. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 The experience was deeply discomfiting for Burt. — Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025

Verb

These are questions that can be discomfiting, even disturbing. — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 His views, possibly as discomfiting for some in his party as his internet history, seem almost optimized for social media virality. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt are his overwhelmed disciples, imbued with discomfiting powers that could be key to making contact with these otherworldly guests. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 10 June 2026 The sheer amount of information is discomfiting, and that’s the point. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026 Scenes are rendered with an diorama-esque economy of mise en scene that feels unreal, almost game-like — an aesthetic met with meaning in the film’s final act — and Nagahisa and Takeda take every opportunity to present the city from a different, often discomfiting angle. — Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026 The material can be discomfiting to take in, but Ronan anchors Maria’s every move in the character’s stubborn belief that her actions are well intentioned. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discomfiting

Adjective

The question about Vrabel's family counseling sessions that followed an embarrassing unfurling of a years-long relationship between him and a reporter was met with an answer that ultimately discussed offensive line combination blocks.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Individuals can't plead the Fifth before Congress simply to avoid embarrassing testimony.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.

— The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

The light entering my eyes would bend at two different angles, confusing my brain and making my vision a little blurry.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Bringing in extra mythology wouldn’t make the confusing parts any less confusing, and would just confuse the parts that aren’t confusing at all.

— Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of confusing

Verb

Despite some protests about a dog contributing to the game, Buddy — clad in a bright blue jersey and two pairs of basketball kicks — scores baffling basket after baffling basket, leaving the other team shocked.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
While Loathe’s baffling compositional choices may jump out first, the album’s most glaring flaw is its production.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026

Definition of baffling

Verb

It is filled with off-putting, perhaps even disconcerting antics, and teams don't want to add that to their locker room.

— Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
One less gory but still disconcerting video shown in court was the bodycam footage from the night in February 2024 when members of the LA County Sheriff’s Department paid a visit to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026

Definition of disconcerting

Adjective

In addition, an awkward meeting between Ed and a smooth literary agent (Jake Lacy), along with a mini-subplot involving phone calls from Ed’s frustrated sister about their dying brother, come off slightly wedged in.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The awkward part of all this, though, is that Anthropic isn’t making money yet.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of awkward

Verb

Delays connecting new power plants to the grid are hampering progress.

— Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
Toub said the only scenario in which a rookie wouldn’t participate in special teams is because of an injury — such as the shoulder issue that’s currently hampering the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, cornerback Mansoor Delane.

— Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of hampering

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“Discomfiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discomfiting. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of discomfiting

adjective

verb

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