disaffected

adjective

dis·​af·​fect·​ed ˌdis-ə-ˈfek-təd 

: discontented and resentful especially against authority : rebellious

disaffected youth

Examples of disaffected in a Sentence

The troops had become disaffected.

Both political parties are looking for ways to regain the trust of disaffected voters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ellis was the enfant terrible of the ’80s and ’90s literary scene, earning a following with novels about disaffected teens and 20-somethings mixed up in drugs, ennui, and gang rapes. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026

But Democrats believe that Kamala Harris’ eventual loss in Michigan stemmed in part from their lingering splits over Gaza, leading disaffected voters to stay home despite the urging of many progressives who had previously backed the protest. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 30 July 2026

Jack Nicholson stars as a disaffected journalist who assumes the identity of a dead man in an attempt to start over, only to find that his new life is even more complicated than his own. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Fight Club starred Norton as an unnamed man who can't sleep and has become disaffected and lost. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disaffected

• disconnected
• disinfected
• interjected
• intersected
• misdirected
• preselected
• recollected
• reconnected
• redirected
• reelected
• resurrected
• unaffected