: lack of satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation : lack of contentment:
a
: a sense of grievance : dissatisfaction
the winter of our discontent—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
b
: restless aspiration (see aspiration sense 1a) for improvement
discontented; discontenting; discontents
: to make dissatisfied or discontented
were discontented by the decision
: one who is dissatisfied or discontented : malcontent
Synonyms
Examples of discontent in a Sentence
Adjective
Polls show that voters are growing increasingly discontent.
a novel about a woman who is desperately discontent with the stifling limitations of her small-town life
Noun (1)
the rebels worked to stir up discontent among the citizens
Verb
the ongoing lack of decent food discontented and demoralized the soldiers in the rebel army
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy Jones, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024
The decision to put an end date on Tuchel’s time at Bayern, in many ways, feels like a band-aid to calm down both the dressing room and also an increasingly discontent fan scene.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
After the memorandum of agreement was published Tuesday night, some members expressed discontent with the deal.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024
Jessica Gomez, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
A day later, Harbaugh wasn’t so much as regretful as he was discontented.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discontent 
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Adjective
Yet there has been discontent among the fanbase at the steady trickle of youthful talent exiting the club this summer.
—Andy Jones, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024
The decision to put an end date on Tuchel’s time at Bayern, in many ways, feels like a band-aid to calm down both the dressing room and also an increasingly discontent fan scene.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
The Luxury Institute, which conducts research specific to the luxury industry, confirms the high levels of employee discontent and adds context around the challenges front-line luxury goods associates are experiencing after the pandemic.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
After the memorandum of agreement was published Tuesday night, some members expressed discontent with the deal.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
Post-election, some may feel content, others discontent and some indifferent.
—Jessica Gomez, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
A day later, Harbaugh wasn’t so much as regretful as he was discontented.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discontent
Dictionary Entries Near discontent
Cite this Entry
“Discontent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discontent. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discontent
1 of 3 adjective
dis·con·tent
ˌdis-kən-ˈtent 
discontent
2 of 3 verb
: to make discontented
discontentment
noun
-mənt
discontent
3 of 3 noun
: the condition of being dissatisfied
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