discomposed
1
8.3
- adjective
- /ˌdɪs.kəmˈpoʊzd/
- She appeared discomposed when she heard the unexpected news.
Examples
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His discomposed manner revealed that something was wrong.
-
He became discomposed when he realized he had forgotten to prepare for the interview.
-
Despite her outward calm, he could see she was inwardly discomposed.
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Don't be discomposed!
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She felt discomposed during the unexpected meeting.
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Even though she tried to smile, her discomposed expression showed her true feelings of anxiety.
-
The surprising news left her feeling discomposed and unsure of how to respond.
Synonyms
11
6.4
Worried or upset because of something unexpected
6
9.9
Confused and unable to think clearly after something unexpected
4
6.9
Feeling confused and uneasy because something surprised you
4
6.5
Not showing surprise or worry when something unexpected happens
1
7.0
Feeling worried and uneasy about something
1
8.4
Feeling very surprised and worried by something unexpected
Antonyms
How Uneasy
Surface Forms
Morphology
discomposed = discompose (semi-transparent) = dis + compose + ed
The formation with '-ed' from 'discompose' is morphologically regular, but 'discompose' is rare and 'compose' is more often known as 'create/write', so learners may not reliably infer the 'disturb/lose composure' sense.
Etymology
The word discomposed comes from the part dis- ('not') and compose ('to put together' or 'to calm'), the same compose in the phrase 'compose yourself'. So, to be discomposed is to be 'not put together', which explains feeling uneasy or unsettled.