mal·con·tent
ˌmal-kən-ˈtent 
: a discontented person:
a
: one who bears a grudge from a sense of grievance or thwarted ambition
malcontents … bitter and almost choking with self-pity—
E. W. Griffiths
E. W. Griffiths
b
: one who is in active opposition to an established order or government : rebel
a country infested with political malcontents
: dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs : discontented
Synonyms
Examples of malcontent in a Sentence
Noun
He complained so much that he got a reputation for being a malcontent.
Adjective
she seems like a very malcontent person, always acting as if the entire world were out to get her
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Kang, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
In the early oughts, Blake’s band Daybreak and Pig Destroyer were both fledgling bands of malcontents fighting to establish our footprint in the scene.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2024
Crispin Hunt, Billboard, 22 May 2019
But prominent leaders — not least, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany — warned that a jilted European Union would be in no mood to extend Britain a rewarding deal, lest other malcontent members take encouragement to go for the exits.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 23 June 2016
See all Example Sentences for malcontent 
Noun
An effective leader identifies the malcontents, fires, sidelines, or motivates them, and rewards and promotes those who share his agenda and can move his vision forward.
—David Kang, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2017
In the early oughts, Blake’s band Daybreak and Pig Destroyer were both fledgling bands of malcontents fighting to establish our footprint in the scene.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The South West is a healing mecca for artists and malcontent media sorts, new age travelers, purveyors of crystals and surfers seeking budget California on the beaches of the Cornish Atlantic.
—Crispin Hunt, Billboard, 22 May 2019
But prominent leaders — not least, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany — warned that a jilted European Union would be in no mood to extend Britain a rewarding deal, lest other malcontent members take encouragement to go for the exits.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 23 June 2016
See all Example Sentences for malcontent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'malcontent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near malcontent
Cite this Entry
“Malcontent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malcontent. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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