significant discomfort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant discomfort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a considerable level of unease or pain experienced by someone, often in medical or emotional contexts. Example: "After the procedure, the patient reported significant discomfort that required further evaluation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, many patients have significant discomfort from the urethral catheter.

European Urology

While avoiding significant discomfort due to temperature change.

Energy and Buildings

In-flight pressure changes can create significant discomfort in a host of conditions.

The New York Times - Travel

The looks were not deceiving as Wright later explained that driving the ball into his big toe caused significant discomfort.

The New York Times - Sports

IT'S only a mild case of audiophilia, according to the professionals, but it's causing me significant discomfort.

The New York Times - Tech

By doing so, we dull the lasting shock of Newman's audacity and lose touch with the significant discomfort of his contemporaries.

The New Yorker

Ms. Farber had been a healthy and physically active woman when, last December, she became fatigued and had significant discomfort in her back.

The New York Times

Most surgical patients need to commit to a lifetime of vitamin supplements and regular checkups, and some people — especially those who choose gastric banding — experience significant discomfort or even vomiting from feeling full.

The New Yorker

Antoine said they also found five dental abscesses which "would have caused significant discomfort and may have been a cause of death" because if the infection had got in to his bloodstream it could have caused septicaemia.

The Guardian

Most surgical patients need to commit to a lifetime of vitamin supplements and regular checkups, and some people especially those who choose gastric banding experience significant discomfort or even vomiting from feeling full.

The New Yorker

The 5-foot-9-inch, 30-year-old Kisio has played 502 games in the National Hockey League, and a safe estimate would be that he has played the last 140 with significant discomfort in his ailing back.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a patient's condition, use "significant discomfort" to convey a level of pain or unease that warrants attention without overstating the severity.

Common error

Avoid using "significant discomfort" when a milder term like "mild discomfort" would be more accurate. Overstating the severity can mislead the audience and diminish the impact of genuinely severe cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant discomfort" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes a tangible sensation or condition experienced by an individual.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

43%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant discomfort" is a frequently used noun phrase that describes a noticeable level of pain or unease. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, it's important to accurately reflect the severity of the discomfort to avoid misleading your audience, as an exaggeration can diminish the gravity of genuinely severe cases. Alternatives include phrases like "considerable unease" and "substantial pain", which can be used depending on the context. The phrase is well-established in authoritative sources, making it a reliable choice for formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major discomfort

This alternative replaces "significant" with "major", maintaining a similar level of intensity in describing the discomfort.

intense pain

Highlights the severity of physical suffering using "intense" instead of "significant" to modify "pain".

considerable unease

Replaces "discomfort" with "unease" and "significant" with "considerable", suggesting a substantial level of worry or anxiety.

substantial pain

Substitutes "discomfort" with "pain" to emphasize physical suffering and "significant" with "substantial" to highlight the degree.

marked distress

Replaces "discomfort" with "distress", indicating a high level of suffering or anguish and uses "marked" for emphasis.

considerable distress

This alternative uses the more intense term "distress" to replace "discomfort", while maintaining the degree of impact with "considerable".

noticeable agony

Uses "agony" instead of "discomfort", conveying severe suffering; "noticeable" indicates it's easily observed.

severe ache

Indicates a persistent and unpleasant sensation, replacing "discomfort" with "ache" and using "severe" for emphasis.

pronounced irritation

Focuses on "irritation" rather than general discomfort, specifying a source of annoyance or inflammation and using "pronounced" for emphasis.

notable suffering

Swaps out "discomfort" for "suffering" to indicate a more profound negative experience, and "significant" with "notable".

FAQs

How can I use "significant discomfort" in a sentence?

You can use "significant discomfort" to describe a noticeable level of pain or unease. For example, "The patient reported "significant discomfort" after the procedure."

What are some alternatives to saying "significant discomfort"?

Alternatives include "considerable unease", "substantial pain", or "marked distress", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "significant discomfort" in formal writing?

Yes, "significant discomfort" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in medical or professional contexts where precise and descriptive language is needed. However, consider the specific audience and adjust the language accordingly.

What is the difference between "significant discomfort" and "mild discomfort"?

"Significant discomfort" indicates a noticeable and potentially concerning level of unease or pain, while "mild discomfort" suggests a less intense and less worrisome level. The choice depends on the actual severity of the discomfort being described.