Disgruntled: meaning, definitions and examples

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disgruntled

 

[ dɪsˈɡrʌntld ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

employee

angry or dissatisfied, typically at something unjust or wrong

Synonyms

aggrieved, discontented, dissatisfied, resentful.

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Word Description / Examples
disgruntled

When someone is annoyed or angry because something did not happen as they expected or wanted, often related to work or services.

  • The employees are disgruntled because their bonuses were canceled
  • Customers are often disgruntled when their orders are delayed
discontented

When someone is unhappy or dissatisfied with their situation or condition, on a more general and continuous basis.

  • She has been discontented with her job for months
  • The villagers were discontented with the local government’s policies
dissatisfied

When someone is unhappy because something does not meet their expectations or standards, often used in consumer experiences.

  • She was dissatisfied with the quality of the meal at the restaurant
  • The manager called to apologize to the dissatisfied customer
aggrieved

When someone feels that they have been unfairly treated or wronged, often legally or morally.

  • The student felt aggrieved when he was punished for a mistake he did not make
  • The aggrieved party took the matter to court
resentful

When someone feels bitterness or anger due to being treated unfairly or because of an unresolved grievance.

  • He felt resentful after being passed over for the promotion
  • The child was resentful of the attention his new baby brother received

Examples of usage

  • He was disgruntled with the way he was treated by his boss.
  • The disgruntled workers went on strike to protest against the unfair working conditions.
  • She became disgruntled after not receiving a promotion despite her hard work.
Context #2 | Adjective

customer

unhappy and annoyed

Synonyms

displeased, frustrated, irritated, unhappy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disgruntled

This word is often used to describe someone who is unhappy and annoyed, especially because they feel they've been treated unfairly.

  • The disgruntled employee filed a complaint against his manager.
  • She was disgruntled with the poor service at the restaurant.
irritated

This term suggests a stronger sense of annoyance, often due to small or persistent problems.

  • The constant noise from the construction site left him irritated.
  • Her brother's teasing always made her feel irritated.
frustrated

This word is used when someone feels annoyed or upset because they cannot achieve something they want or because something is repeatedly going wrong.

  • She was frustrated by the slow progress on her project.
  • He felt frustrated after failing the exam for the third time.
displeased

This term is more mild and formal, used when someone is slightly annoyed or not satisfied with something.

  • The teacher was displeased with the student's lack of effort.
  • He looked displeased when he saw the messy room.
unhappy

This is a general term that denotes a state of sadness or dissatisfaction.

  • She felt unhappy with her current job.
  • He was unhappy about the decision to move to a new city.

Examples of usage

  • The disgruntled customer demanded a refund for the faulty product.
  • The restaurant manager tried to appease the disgruntled diner by offering a free meal.
  • The company received a complaint from a disgruntled client about the poor service.

Translations

Translations of the word "disgruntled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 descontente

🇮🇳 असंतुष्ट

🇩🇪 verärgert

🇮🇩 tidak puas

🇺🇦 невдоволений

🇵🇱 niezadowolony

🇯🇵 不満

🇫🇷 mécontent

🇪🇸 descontento

🇹🇷 hoşnutsuz

🇰🇷 불만스러운

🇸🇦 ساخط

🇨🇿 nespokojený

🇸🇰 nespokojný

🇨🇳 不满的

🇸🇮 nezadovoljen

🇮🇸 óánægður

🇰🇿 наразы

🇬🇪 გაუცხოებული

🇦🇿 narazı

🇲🇽 descontento

Etymology

The word 'disgruntled' originated in the early 17th century, from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'apart' or 'away', and 'gruntle' which was a humorous back-formation from 'grunt', giving the sense of 'uttering grunts'. Over time, 'disgruntled' evolved to mean 'angry or dissatisfied', particularly in the context of employees or customers feeling unhappy or annoyed.

See also: disgruntle, disgruntlement, grunt, grunting, gruntle.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,639, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.