Discomfort is the feeling of being physically or mentally uneasy, bothered, or not quite right. When your shoes are too tight, you feel physical discomfort. When you have to give a presentation in front of the class and your stomach feels jittery, that's mental discomfort.

Discomfort is weaker than pain but stronger than a tiny annoyance. It's that nagging feeling that something isn't comfortable or pleasant. You might feel discomfort sitting in an awkward position for too long, wearing scratchy clothes, or being in a room that's too hot or too cold.

The word also describes social uneasiness. If you accidentally insult someone and everyone gets quiet, you might feel the discomfort in the room. When two friends are arguing and you're stuck between them, that awkward feeling is discomfort.

Some discomfort can be part of learning and growth. Learning a difficult new skill feels uncomfortable at first: your brain struggles with unfamiliar concepts, you make mistakes, and you might feel frustrated. Athletes train through discomfort to get stronger. Students work through the discomfort of challenging assignments to learn more.