discontent
Americanadjective
noun
-
Also discontentment. lack of contentment; dissatisfaction.
- Synonyms:
- inquietude, uneasiness, displeasure, restlessness
-
a restless desire or craving for something one does not have.
-
a malcontent.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
Also called: discontentment. lack of contentment, as with one's condition or lot in life
-
a discontented person
adjective
verb
Related Words
See dissatisfaction.
Other Word Forms
- discontented adjective
- discontentedly adverb
- discontentedness noun
- prediscontent noun
- prediscontentment noun
Etymology
Origin of discontent
Explanation
When you experience discontent, you're not happy. You've been let down — either by others or by yourself. The word discontent is made up of dis, meaning "not," and content, "a state of peaceful happiness." So as an adjective, discontent means "not happy or peaceful," like the discontent Egyptian citizens who expressed their dissatisfaction with their country's leader by protesting and demanding he give up power. As a verb, discontent means "to make unhappy," like bad news that discontents you.
Vocabulary lists containing discontent
Power Prefix: dis-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Of Mice and Men
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But Maria Nichols unseated Paiz by recognizing deep discontent among administrators.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The families have never been happy with that outcome, and made that clear on the steps of Nottingham Crown Court after the sentencing, expressing their discontent with elements of the police investigation.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
Council President and chairman of the talks Costa added to the chorus of discontent, describing Hungary's actions as "completely unacceptable".
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged in an X post "the discontent our people feel because of the prolonged blackouts" after the early March outage.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
Alas, Gertrude’s discontent could not be eased by my attentions.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
