dissatisfied

American  

[dis-sat-is-fahyd] / dɪsˈsæt ɪsˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. not satisfied or pleased; discontented.

2. showing dissatisfaction.

   a dissatisfied look.

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dissatisfied British  

/ dɪsˈsætɪsˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having or showing dissatisfaction; discontented

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Other Word Forms

• dissatisfiedly adverb
• dissatisfiedness noun
• self-dissatisfied adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissatisfied

First recorded in 1665–75; dissatisfy + -ed ²

Explanation

If you're dissatisfied, you're not happy — you're annoyed and disgruntled. You probably don't enjoy eating out with your parents if they're always dissatisfied with the food they order. You might be dissatisfied with the final episode of your favorite TV show, or dissatisfied with your grades n German last semester. In either case, you're not pleased. A slightly different way to be dissatisfied is to be unconvinced: "She was dissatisfied with the answer he gave when she asked when he planned to pay back the money he owed her." Dissatisfied combines dis-, "not," and satisfied, from a Latin root, satisfacere, "do enough."

Example Sentences

All are dissatisfied and all wind up involved with unions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

When I asked her about the protests, she replied: "There were people protesting who were dissatisfied with the economic situation, and their protest was legitimate."

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

They’re tired of his drama, unconvinced of his loyalty, dissatisfied with the results, and ready to embrace fresh new franchise faces.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

“It is like smelling bad, spoiled salsa! Yuck!!” raved another dissatisfied customer.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

Let us be dissatisfied, and men will recognize that out of one blood God made all men to dwell upon the face of the earth.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Related Words

• discontented