displeasure
Americannoun
-
dissatisfaction, disapproval, or annoyance.
- Synonyms:
- vexation, indignation, dislike, distaste
- Antonyms:
- pleasure
-
discomfort, uneasiness, or pain.
-
Archaic. a cause of offense, annoyance, or injury.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
the condition of being displeased
-
archaic
-
pain
-
an act or cause of offence
-
verb
Related Words
See dissatisfaction.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of displeasure
1400–50; dis- 1 + pleasure; replacing late Middle English desplaisir < Middle French (noun use of infinitive); see displease
Explanation
Displeasure is a feeling of unhappiness or annoyance. The displeasure on your mom's face will clearly show you how she feels about you letting your pet guinea pigs sleep in her bed. Use the word displeasure when you are irritated by something or sternly disapprove of it. If your uncle hates surprises, an enormous surprise fortieth birthday party might result in displeasure rather than the happy smile you imagined. One way for citizens to express their displeasure with elected officials is to vote against them — another might be staging a protest.
Vocabulary lists containing displeasure
The Sound and the Fury: Synonyms for "Anger"
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Dislike
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Anger (noun)
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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.
I must have made a face showing my displeasure.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
There were some on the terraces who stayed behind to clap the team off, but others showed their displeasure by booing after a meek display left Newcastle 12th in the Premier League.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
But in December, the White House quashed the deal, citing displeasure with the U.K.’s online safety rules, its digital services tax—and, strangely, food safety rules.
From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026
He characterized Epstein as being generally amicable but described an instance of “very aggressive” displeasure after Perry Lang left a prepared meal in the fridge.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026
She sensed his unspoken displeasure and fell back into her place, cowed, her hands limp at her sides, her mouth open.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
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.
