discomfit
2 synonyms for discomfit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use discomfit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
visibly discomfited
discomfit an opponent
seemed to discomfit her
It is more common in written English than in casual conversation.
Etymology
Discomfit comes from Middle English discomfiten, taken from Old French desconfit, the past participle of desconfire, meaning to undo or destroy. That French word is built from Latin roots meaning completely and to make or finish, ultimately from Latin conficio. Its present-day sense of embarrassing someone arose later,...
Full origin of discomfit →Frequently asked questions
What does discomfit mean?
It means to embarrass or unsettle someone, making them feel awkward or confused.
Is discomfit the same as discomfort?
They are different words that came to sound similar; discomfit's common modern meaning of embarrassing someone actually grew out of confusion with discomfort, though careful writers still treat them as separate.
Is discomfit a formal word?
It reads as a slightly literary or formal choice, more likely in writing than everyday speech.
