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Discontentment: meaning, definitions and examples

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discontentment

 

[ ˌdɪs.kənˈtɛnt.mənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of dissatisfaction

Discontentment refers to the state of being dissatisfied or unhappy with one's current situation or circumstances. It is a feeling of discontent, displeasure, or lack of fulfillment. Discontentment can arise from various sources, such as unmet expectations, unfulfilled desires, or perceived injustices.

Synonyms

disatisfaction, discontent, displeasure, unhappiness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
discontentment

Similar to 'discontent,' but slightly more formal and rarely used. It describes a state of dissatisfaction, often more personal and internal.

  • His discontentment with his current job pushed him to look for new opportunities.
  • She couldn't hide her discontentment with the final decision.
displeasure

A more formal way to express a feeling of annoyance or mild anger. It often suggests a polite or controlled form of discontent.

  • The manager expressed his displeasure with the team’s performance.
  • She couldn’t hide her displeasure when her suggestion was ignored.
unhappiness

The simplest and most general term, often used to describe personal feelings of sadness or lack of fulfillment. It is more emotional and less formal than the other terms.

  • Her unhappiness was obvious to everyone who knew her.
  • They tried to address their unhappiness in the relationship through counseling.
discontent

Often used in formal or written settings to describe a general feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction among a group of people, such as employees or citizens.

  • The new policies caused widespread discontent among the workers.
  • There is a growing discontent in the community about the lack of infrastructure.

Examples of usage

  • His constant discontentment with his job led him to seek new opportunities.
  • She expressed her discontentment with the lack of progress on the project.
  • The discontentment among the employees was evident in their low morale.
  • Despite her material wealth, she felt a deep sense of discontentment in her life.
  • The discontentment in the community grew as grievances remained unaddressed.

Translations

Translations of the word "discontentment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 descontentamento

🇮🇳 असंतोष

🇩🇪 Unzufriedenheit

🇮🇩 ketidakpuasan

🇺🇦 незадоволення

🇵🇱 niezadowolenie

🇯🇵 不満

🇫🇷 mécontentement

🇪🇸 descontento

🇹🇷 hoşnutsuzluk

🇰🇷 불만

🇸🇦 استياء

🇨🇿 nespokojenost

🇸🇰 nespokojnosť

🇨🇳 不满

🇸🇮 nezadovoljstvo

🇮🇸 óánægja

🇰🇿 наразылық

🇬🇪 უკმაყოფილება

🇦🇿 narazılıq

🇲🇽 descontento

Etymology

The word 'discontentment' originated from the Middle English word 'discontentement', which in turn came from the Old French word 'descontentement'. The prefix 'dis-' indicates negation or reversal, while 'contentment' refers to a state of being content or satisfied. Over time, 'discontentment' evolved to represent the opposite - a state of dissatisfaction or unhappiness.

See also: contented, contenting, contention, contentious, contentment, discontent, discontented, discontentedly, malcontent.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,890, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.