displease

[ dis-pleez ]

/ dɪsˈpliz /

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See synonyms for: displease / displeased / displeasing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dis·pleased, dis·pleas·ing.

to incur the dissatisfaction, dislike, or disapproval of; offend; annoy: His reply displeased the judge.

verb (used without object), dis·pleased, dis·pleas·ing.

to be unpleasant; cause displeasure: Bad weather displeases.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of displease

1300–50; Middle English desplesen<Anglo-French, Middle French desplaisir.See dis-¹, please

OTHER WORDS FROM displease

dis·pleas·ing·ly, adverbdis·pleas·ing·ness, nounself-dis·pleased, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use displease in a sentence

What actually sounds pleasing and displeasing to us, how we listen, how we learn to listen, how we engage with sound.
Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears (Ep. 439)|Stephen J. Dubner|November 12, 2020|Freakonomics
He said Mr. Spielberg was very displeased and wanted me to leave the island.
My Time on the Set of 'Jaws,' or How to Get a Photo of a Frickin' Mechanical Shark|Tom Shales|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wen Xiaowu, another visitor, said he believed China's president would be "displeased" with his Communist colleagues in Zhejiang.
Christians Form Human Shield Around Church in China's 'Jerusalem'|The Telegraph|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They will probably be more displeased if they see them trying to game the system.
The Coming GOP Immigration War|Patricia Murphy|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

So on October 14, 1999, the leader of the displeased, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, challenged McCain to defend his charges.
Congress Can Be Corrupt Without Corrupt People|Lawrence Lessig|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“No dictator is displeased by cartoons showing him as a power-seeking world-beater,” he would say.
Victor Navasky’s 7 Favorite Political Cartoons|Victor S. Navasky|April 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Jane, who was far from pleased with her reception in the hall, was exceedingly displeased with her reception in the saloon.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
This reasoning displeased the dwarfs, and one of them named Tad denounced it with much indignation.
Honey-Bee|Anatole France
It came, therefore, to the Consul's ears that Jacob Worse was courting, and it both displeased and made him anxious.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
On seeing the three strangers, this high and mighty personage frowned with an intensely surprised and displeased air.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
But on the whole, I am far indeed from being displeased with the tailie.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for displease

displease

/ (dɪsˈpliːz) /

verb

to annoy, offend, or cause displeasure to (someone)

Derived forms of displease

displeasing, adjectivedispleasingly, adverb

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

displease

Origin of displease

OTHER WORDS FROM displease

Words related to displease

How to use displease in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for displease

Derived forms of displease