displeasure

displeasure — noun

1. the unhappy or disappointed feeling you have when a situation, event, or person'

1.nounB2
Definition

the unhappy or disappointed feeling you have when a situation, event, or person's actions are not what you wanted, expected, or thought was right

Example

The manager expressed his displeasure with the team's slow progress on the project.

collocation: express displeasure with [something]

A look of displeasure crossed Ingrid's face when she saw the bill.

collocation: look of displeasure

Common collocations
  • express displeasure
  • show displeasure
  • voice displeasure
  • cause displeasure
  • displeasure at
  • displeasure with
  • displeasure over
  • deep displeasure
  • strong displeasure
  • look of displeasure
Synonyms
  • dissatisfaction

    less emotional than 'displeasure'; focuses on unmet expectations rather than active annoyance

  • annoyance

    less formal and more common in everyday speech; suggests a milder, more temporary feeling

  • disapproval

    focuses on a judgment that something is morally or socially wrong, not just unpleasant

Antonyms
  • pleasure

    the direct opposite; a feeling of happiness or satisfaction

  • satisfaction

    focuses on contentment with how things turned out

Grammar Patterns

displeasure at/with/over something

someone's displeasure

show/express/voice displeasure

Usage Note

Common in formal or semi-formal contexts — writing, meetings, official complaints. In everyday conversation, words like 'annoyance' or 'unhappiness' are more natural. Frequently takes a prepositional phrase with 'at,' 'with,' or 'over' to specify the cause.

Common Mistakes

I felt displeasure when he was late.
I was annoyed when he was late.
'displeasure' sounds too formal for everyday personal feelings; use simpler words in casual conversation.
She had a displeasure about the result.
She expressed her displeasure at the result.
'displeasure' is usually uncountable and needs a possessive determiner (his/her/their) before it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Displeasure', 'dissatisfaction', 'annoyance', 'disapproval', and 'resentment' all describe negative reactions, but they differ in intensity and focus. 'Dissatisfaction' is the mildest and most neutral — it simply means your expectations were not met ('customer dissatisfaction with the service'). 'Annoyance' is more emotional and slightly irritating, but still mild and common in everyday situations ('the noise caused a lot of annoyance'). 'Displeasure' sits at a similar emotional level to 'annoyance' but is noticeably more formal, used in writing or official settings ('the judge expressed displeasure'). 'Disapproval' adds a moral or social judgment — you think something is wrong, not just unpleasant ('her disapproval of their behaviour was clear'). 'Resentment' is the strongest and most lasting — it involves anger about unfair treatment that stays with you over time ('years of resentment built up between them'). For everyday feelings, use 'annoyance' or 'dissatisfaction'; for formal complaints or official contexts, 'displeasure' is the right choice.

dissatisfactionannoyance ↗disapproval ↗resentment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • express displeasure
  • show displeasure
  • voice displeasure
  • cause displeasure
  • a sign of displeasure
  • feelings of displeasure

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Displeasure' comes from the Old French word 'plaisir' (to please), combined with the Latin prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'not' or 'opposite of'). So it literally means 'the opposite of pleasure'. The word entered English around the 1400s and has been used ever since to describe the feeling of being unhappy or annoyed with someone or something.