comfortable
comfortable
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "comfortable" is /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ or /ˈkʌmftərbəl/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ˈkʌm:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ʌ/: Open-mid back unrounded vowel (as in "cup")
/m/: Bilabial nasal
fər (or fər):
/f/: Voiceless labiodental fricative
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant
tə:
/t/: Voiceless alveolar stop
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
bəl:
/b/: Voiced bilabial stop
/əl/: Syllabic "l" (a liquid consonant that forms its own syllable)
Word Form Variations
Comfortable" is primarily an adjective. However, it has related forms that function as other parts of speech.
Adjective Forms:
Positive: comfortable (e.g., "The chair is comfortable.")
Comparative: more comfortable (e.g., "This new chair is more comfortable.")
Superlative: most comfortable (e.g., "That's the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in.")
Related Forms:
Noun: comfort (e.g., "I seek comfort in my home.")
Adverb: comfortably (e.g., "She rested comfortably on the sofa.")
Verb: comfort (e.g., "He tried to comfort the crying child.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective Definitions
Providing a feeling of physical ease and relaxation; free from discomfort or pain.
Synonyms: Cozy, snug, restful, relaxed, soft, pleasant
Antonyms: Uncomfortable, uneasy, painful, stiff, harsh, cramped
Feeling at ease or contented, especially in a particular situation or with a person; not anxious or worried.
Synonyms: Content, relaxed, at ease, secure, confident, tranquil
Antonyms: Anxious, uneasy, awkward, nervous, stressed, insecure
(Of a financial situation or lifestyle) Providing enough money for a good standard of living without financial worries.
Synonyms: Prosperous, affluent, well-off, secure, stable, well-to-do
Antonyms: Poor, impoverished, struggling, destitute, precarious
Examples of Use
Books
"It was a comfortable room, with a good fire blazing on the hearth, and a general air of coziness." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843)
"She found a comfortable spot under the old oak tree and opened her book." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 1997)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The new ergonomic chairs promise to make working from home more comfortable." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Analysts suggest the company is in a financially comfortable position for the next quarter." (Reuters)
"Wearing loose clothing on long flights can significantly improve your comfortable travel experience." (Condé Nast Traveler)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: In the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy Dufresne tells Red, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." While not using "comfortable," the film often contrasts his comfortable pre-prison life with the discomfort of incarceration.
Television: "We want our guests to feel absolutely comfortable during their stay with us." (Common line from hospitality shows or hotel advertisements)
Music: "I feel so comfortable with you, like I've known you forever." (Lyrics from various popular songs expressing ease in a relationship).
Video Games: Many simulation games, like The Sims, focus on creating a comfortable and appealing environment for virtual characters to thrive.
General Public Discourse
"This sofa is so comfortable, I could fall asleep right here." (Everyday conversation about furniture)
"Are you comfortable with the decision we made?" (Asking for agreement or ease with a choice)
"After years of hard work, they're finally living a comfortable life." (Discussing financial well-being)
"I don't feel comfortable walking alone at night in that neighborhood." (Expressing a sense of unease or insecurity)
10 Quotes Using Comfortable
"It was a comfortable room, with a good fire blazing on the hearth, and a general air of coziness." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)
"The most comfortable thing about money is that it is useful." (Gertrude Stein)
"I believe the most important thing for any woman to have is a comfortable pair of shoes." (Audrey Hepburn, often attributed)
"We are not comfortable in the presence of passion when it is so nakedly and unashamedly displayed." (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." (Often attributed to John A. Shedd, implying not staying comfortable or complacent)
"He who is not comfortable in his present, is not going to be comfortable in his future." (African Proverb, widely circulated)
"I'm not comfortable with people who are so much more comfortable than I am." (Don Draper, Mad Men)
"It is not in the nature of man to be comfortable always." (Herman Melville, Moby Dick)
"Life begins at the end of your comfortable zone." (Often attributed to Neale Donald Walsch, though widely used)
"A truly comfortable home is a place where you can be yourself." (Original)
Etymology
The word "comfortable" has a fascinating journey through language, starting with the idea of strength and support.
It comes from the Old French word "confortable," which meant "providing comfort or solace." This French word, in turn, derived from the Latin word "confortare," meaning "to strengthen greatly" or "to console." The Latin "con-" is an intensifier (meaning "thoroughly" or "together"), and "fortis" means "strong."
So, originally, "comfortable" was about being strengthened or supported, both physically and emotionally.
The first known use of "comfortable" in English, around the late 14th century, reflected this earlier sense of providing strengthening support or consolation. It was used to describe things or people that offered encouragement, relief, or assistance, rather than just physical ease. Over time, the meaning evolved to its primary modern sense of physical relaxation and mental ease, which became more common by the 18th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Comfortable
Comfortable in one's own skin: Feeling at ease and confident with oneself.
Too comfortable: Being overly complacent or settled, often to one's detriment.
Comfortable silence: A period of quiet shared between people who are at ease with each other.
Comfortable living: A lifestyle that provides sufficient financial ease without hardship.
Make oneself comfortable: To get into a relaxed or settled position.
Comfort zone: A place or situation where one feels safe and at ease, often avoiding risks.
Ease one's mind: (Using a synonym, "ease," to mean to relieve worry or anxiety).
At ease: (Meaning relaxed and untroubled, similar to comfortable).
Soft landing: (Figuratively implying a gentle or easy transition, like a comfortable landing).
Snug as a bug in a rug: (An idiom expressing extreme comfort and coziness, using a similar concept).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of comfortable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
