: 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
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
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Aside from the geopolitical wrangling over the event, there has been discontent surrounding the summit from many in South Africa.
—NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Videos circulating Thursday showed demonstrators tearing the Iranian flag in northern Iran as protests fueled by soaring inflation, currency devaluation and deep discontent with the country’s theocratic leadership continued to spread.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The Hill Staff, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent measures reportedly taken by the district have added to discontent among union members.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discontent
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Adjective
Despite his level-headedness, Mike is mightily discontent with the low-wattage gigs that are arranged for him by, of all people, his dentist (Fisher Stevens), who soon replaces that absent tooth.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Aside from the geopolitical wrangling over the event, there has been discontent surrounding the summit from many in South Africa.
—NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
The protests quickly spread, with people joining marches across the country to denounce not only the economic woes, but to air wider discontent with the country's hardline regime.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Videos circulating Thursday showed demonstrators tearing the Iranian flag in northern Iran as protests fueled by soaring inflation, currency devaluation and deep discontent with the country’s theocratic leadership continued to spread.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The struggle to confront the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies and a subsequent rise in health care premiums has added to discontent on Capitol Hill, along with growing concern over Democrats winning the argument on affordability.
—The Hill Staff, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent measures reportedly taken by the district have added to discontent among union members.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discontent
Cite this Entry
“Discontent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discontent. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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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