dissatisfied

American  

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

adjective

1. not satisfied or pleased; discontented.

2. showing dissatisfaction.

   a dissatisfied look.

---

dissatisfied British  

/ dɪsˈsætɪsˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. having or showing dissatisfaction; discontented

---

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

The public has been dissatisfied for the past 20 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 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

But the terminally dissatisfied Carol would rather stew in her own low-grade depression and angst that forfeit her free will.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

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

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

But even with this luxury, Steve was still dissatisfied.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• discontented