: 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
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Riley’s comments reportedly struck a nerve with Butler, who grew discontent with only a player option for next season remaining on his deal.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025
Jason Furman, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Post-election, some may feel content, others discontent and some indifferent.
—Jessica Gomez, Forbes, 5 Dec. 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
Once a stronghold of Democratic dominance, California is witnessing a growing wave of discontent among its residents, signaling a potential political shift.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Riley’s comments reportedly struck a nerve with Butler, who grew discontent with only a player option for next season remaining on his deal.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
This focus drew on the work of critics of the old economic orthodoxy, who charged that the neoliberal emphasis on free trade without any supports for workers had hollowed out once thriving manufacturing communities and led to discontent with the deindustrialization that fueled Trump’s rise.
—Jason Furman, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Post-election, some may feel content, others discontent and some indifferent.
—Jessica Gomez, Forbes, 5 Dec. 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 20 Feb. 2025.
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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