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Synonyms

contented

American  
[kuhn-ten-tid] / kənˈtɛn tɪd /

adjective

  1. satisfied; feeling comfortable and at peace with one's circumstances.

    Synonyms:
    happy

contented British  
/ kənˈtɛntɪd /

adjective

  1. accepting one's situation or life with equanimity and satisfaction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of contented

First recorded in 1515–25; content 2 + -ed 2

Explanation

If you're contented, you're happy and not complaining. In the early 1900s, a dairy company cleverly used the word in their advertising slogan — "Milk from contented cows." Who wouldn't like to imagine cows without a care, contented and grazing in sunny, green pastures, every now and then emitting a satisfied moo? The company, which is still in business, became known by that slogan, which they used for many years. They even sponsored a radio show called "The Contented Hour," broadcast from 1931 until 1951.

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Vocabulary lists containing contented

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Contented, he lodged the last of his Hong Kong nights at The Peninsula before returning to the US, separately from Gellhorn.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025

Contented at home, Biden’s career in the Senate blossomed and he began a long tenure on the foreign relations committee.

From The Guardian • Mar. 16, 2019

Mr. Catlette and his business partner, Richard Hadden, run a leadership and training consulting company called Contented Cow Partners.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2012

Contented as a man in the plushest executive suite, American Oil Billionaire Jean Paul Getty, 65, probably the world's richest private citizen, went calmly about his work.

From Time Magazine Archive

Contented, she gazed up at the posts of her four-poster bed, each one tall and straight as a tree trunk.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood