disgruntled

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​grun·​tled dis-ˈgrən-tᵊld 

: unhappy and annoyed

a disgruntled employee

She led her sodden and disgruntled team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the practice had not been a waste of time, though without any real conviction in her voice.

—J. K. Rowling

… a $300,000 refund pool for disgruntled former customers …

—Kevin McGurk

The crowd was up as well, and just as disgruntled as it had been the night before.

—Christopher Cooper & Robert Block

disgruntled

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of disgruntle

Synonyms of disgruntled

Adjective

• dissatisfied
• frustrated

Examples of disgruntled in a Sentence

Adjective

a disgruntled postal worker was responsible for the vandalism

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Multi-talented All-Star forward Shawn Marion had just been traded from upbeat Phoenix (34-14) to beleaguered Miami (9-37) in a deal for disgruntled center Shaquille O’Neal. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

One alternative is that disgruntled diplomacy among two nations (in the absence of a recession) will only make sports fans clutch their hockey entertainment (and maybe equipment) more closely. — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Flashback to a year ago, when one of the most critical members of the Steelers’ defense was also the most disgruntled. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

According to the report, the South Korean government compelled Coupang to hire divers for a covert mission to retrieve a laptop used in the breach by a disgruntled former employee — who is a Chinese national — from a river in Shanghai. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of disgruntle

First Known Use

Adjective

1830, in the meaning defined above