displeasure
Americannoun
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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
Synonym Usage
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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Anger (noun)
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Dislike
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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.
See Examples For:
Rew flapped at the ball gloved down the leg side off Archer, much to the displeasure of the bowler.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
He also announced possible tariff hikes on Brazilian products, much to the displeasure of the Lula administration.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
The “Whiplash” actor played along with the bit, turning around to face Spider-Man and waving his arms to express his displeasure.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and journalist Megyn Kelly, for example – have voiced their displeasure with him on several issues.
From Salon ● May 20, 2026
The man looked at Jennet with displeasure and dislike.
From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman
They call him the English Bayard, and the Frenchman need not be displeasured by the comparison.
From Views and Reviews Essays in appreciation by Henley, William Ernest
For when the way of pleasuring and displeasuring lieth by the favourite, it is impossible any other should be over-great.
From A Century of English Essays An Anthology Ranging from Caxton to R. L. Stevenson & the Writers of Our Own Time by Rhys, Ernest
For when the way of pleasuring, and displeasuring, lieth by the favorite, it is impossible any other should be overgreat.
From The Essays of Francis Bacon by Bacon, Francis
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.
