adjective

disgruntled

/dɪsˈɡrʌntləd/ · say it: dis·GRUN·tuld

angry or dissatisfied

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

unhappy and dissatisfied; annoyed or disappointed about something

Examples

The disgruntled employees complained about the low wages and long hours.

How to use disgruntled

Disgruntled describes a state of persistent dissatisfaction, typically with an organization, system, or authority figure rather than a single event. It carries a more formal tone than annoyed and suggests deeper frustration or resentment. It is commonly used in workplace, political, and customer service contexts.

Common phrases

disgruntled employee
disgruntled customer
disgruntled voters
increasingly disgruntled
grew disgruntled

Synonyms

dissatisfied · discontented · unhappy · disappointed · annoyed

Opposites

satisfied · content · pleased

Word family

disgruntle (verb) · disgruntlement (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use disgruntled to mean merely unhappy in a temporary way, when it typically implies a more sustained, serious discontent with a situation or institution.

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