Displease: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in formal contexts to describe causing someone to feel mildly unhappy or dissatisfied. It is less intense than 'upset' or 'irritate'.

• The modifications to the plan might displease the senior managers.
• The delay in the meeting displeased the attendees slightly.

Used when describing causing someone to feel unhappy, worried, or disturbed. It implies a more emotional reaction than 'displease' or 'annoy'.

• The news of the accident really upset her.
• He was upset by the rude comment his friend made.

Used to describe causing someone to feel more intense irritation or anger. It often has a stronger negative connotation than 'annoy'.

• The repetitive beeping sound irritates me every time I hear it.
• Her insensitive remarks started to irritate everyone in the room.

Used when describing a situation that causes slight to moderate irritation or bother. 'Annoy' suggests a continuous or repeated action.

• The constant noise from the construction site annoys the residents.
• His habit of interrupting her while talking really annoys her.

Appropriate when someone causes annoyance or anger to someone else. This term indicates a mild or moderate level of dissatisfaction.

• His constant interruptions began to displease the audience.
• The changes in the schedule did not displease everyone, but some were quite upset.

Used when someone fails to meet expectations or hopes, causing a sense of sadness or letdown. This word often implies an emotional response.

• She was disappointed when she didn't get the job.
• His performance disappointed the fans who had expected more.

Used when someone does not succeed in achieving a goal or meeting an objective. It often has a stronger negative connotation than 'disappoint' or 'displease'.

• He failed the exam despite studying hard.
• The project failed due to a lack of funding.

Applied when someone does not meet specific standards or expectations, but often with a softer or less harsh connotation than 'fail'. It can be used for both minor and major shortcomings.

• Her efforts fell short of what was required to win the competition.
• The proposal fell short of our expectations, so we requested revisions.