displease

verb

dis·​please (ˌ)dis-ˈplēz 

displeased; displeasing; displeases

transitive verb

1

: to incur the disapproval or dislike of especially by annoying

their gossip displeases her

2

: to be offensive to

abstract art displeases him

intransitive verb

: to give displeasure

behavior calculated to displease

Synonyms

• disaffect
• discontent
• disgruntle
• dissatisfy

Examples of displease in a Sentence

her coworkers' tendency to pry displeased her

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, traders were displeased with results, sending Fubo down as much as 50 cents a share to $2.43 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025

Trump is already calling for the impeachment of one judge who has displeased him, drawing a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025

Some students felt the interview was a blunder the Bills might be displeased with as an organization, but others liked the feistiness and wondered if beleaguered Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams would benefit from a similar approach with local media. —Tim Graham, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Some of Washington's ideas are also likely to displease Moscow. —Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English displesen, from Anglo-French despleisir, desplere, from des- dis- + pleisir to please — more at please

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for displease

• agrees
• appease
• bailees
• bougies
• burmese
• chemise
• chickpeas
• chinese
• cowpeas
• curies
• decrees
• degrees

Kids Definition

displease

verb

dis·​please (ˈ)dis-ˈplēz 

: to cause to feel disapproval, dislike, or annoyance

was displeased by the delay