What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Discomfit vs Discomfort - What's the difference?

discomfit | discomfort |

In obsolete terms the difference between discomfit and discomfort

is that discomfit is discomfited; overthrown while discomfort is to discourage; to deject.

As an adjective discomfit

is discomfited; overthrown.

As a noun discomfort is

mental or bodily distress.

discomfit

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (archaic) To defeat completely; to rout.
  • * 1611 , Bible: King James Version , (w) 17:13,
    • And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
  • * (Edmund Spenser)
    • And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field.
  • To defeat the plans or hopes of; to frustrate.
  • * 1886 , (Andrew Lang) The Mark Of Cain , chapter 10,
    • In these disguises, Maitland argued, he would certainly avoid recognition, and so discomfit any mischief planned by the enemies of Margaret.
  • (proscribed) To embarrass greatly; to confuse; to perplex; to disconcert.
  • * 1853 , , Villette , chapter 20,
    • She is a pretty, silly girl: but are you apprehensive that her titter will discomfit the old lady?
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}

    Usage notes

    While widely used to mean “to embarrass, to disconcert”, prescriptive usage considers this a mistake (confusion with discomfort), and restrict discomfit to meaning “to defeat”.“ Discomfit zone]”, January 4, 2008, [http://www.grammarphobia.com/ Grammarphobia

    Synonyms

    * overthrow, vanquish * (frustrate) foil, thwart * abash, disconcert * See also

    See also

    * discomfort

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) discomfited; overthrown
    • (Webster 1913)

    References

    discomfort

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Mental or bodily distress.
  • Something that disturbs one’s comfort; an annoyance.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Travels and travails , passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause annoyance or distress to.
  • (obsolete) To discourage; to deject.
  • * Shakespeare
    • His funeral shall not be in our camp, / Lest it discomfort us.

    Usage notes

    As a verb, the unrelated term discomfit is often used instead, largely interchangeably, though this is proscribed by some as an error, (term) originally meaning “destroy”, not “distress”.

    Derived terms

    * discomforter

    See also

    * discomfit