unsatisfied

unsatisfied — adjective

1. feeling that what you received, experienced, or achieved falls short of what you

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

feeling that what you received, experienced, or achieved falls short of what you expected or needed

Example

Léa was unsatisfied with the hotel room and asked to move to a quieter floor.

unsatisfied with — followed by the source of dissatisfaction

Antonia felt unsatisfied after the meeting because none of her suggestions were discussed.

Common collocations
  • unsatisfied with
  • deeply unsatisfied
  • remain unsatisfied
  • still unsatisfied
Synonyms
  • dissatisfied

    more common in everyday speech; interchangeable in most contexts but 'dissatisfied' is slightly stronger

  • discontented

    implies a deeper, longer-lasting unhappiness with a situation rather than a single event

  • displeased

    more formal and often refers to a specific thing that caused annoyance rather than a general feeling

Antonyms
  • satisfied

    the direct opposite; feeling that something is good enough

  • content

    implies a calm state of acceptance, not just meeting a minimum standard

Grammar Patterns

be unsatisfied with something

feel unsatisfied

remain unsatisfied

Usage Note

This sense is typically followed by the preposition 'with' to specify the cause of dissatisfaction. The subject is usually a person or group, not an object or situation.

Common Mistakes

I am unsatisfied of the service.
I am unsatisfied with the service.
the correct preposition after 'unsatisfied' is 'with', not 'of'.

2. used to describe a hope, desire, or goal that a person has not been able to achi

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a hope, desire, or goal that a person has not been able to achieve or obtain

Example

Christopher still talks about his unsatisfied desire to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

unsatisfied + desire — modifies the unfulfilled thing itself

Nala's unsatisfied dream of becoming a doctor did not stop her from working at the clinic.

Common collocations
  • unsatisfied desire
  • unsatisfied demand
  • unsatisfied ambition
  • unsatisfied dream
Synonyms
  • unfulfilled

    the most common alternative for wishes, dreams, and ambitions; slightly more natural in everyday use

  • unrealized

    more formal; often used for potential, goals, or plans that were not brought to completion

  • unmet

    common for needs, expectations, or requirements that were not satisfied

Antonyms
  • fulfilled

    direct opposite for dreams, wishes, and ambitions

  • realized

    opposite for goals and potential

Grammar Patterns

unsatisfied + noun (desire, demand, ambition, dream)

Usage Note

In this sense 'unsatisfied' is used directly before a noun (attributive position) and describes the thing that remains unfulfilled — not the person's emotional state. Compare sense 1 where the person is the subject of the feeling.

Common Mistakes

She was unsatisfied about her dream.
She had an unsatisfied dream of opening a bakery.
sense 2 modifies the unfulfilled wish itself, not the person's feeling about it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Dissatisfied' is the most common and neutral word for a person whose expectations were not met — it fits most everyday situations. 'Discontented' suggests a deeper, more long-term unhappiness with one's general situation, such as a job or living conditions, rather than a single disappointing event. 'Displeased' is more formal and often describes a reaction to a specific action or outcome that caused annoyance or disapproval. For example, a customer might be 'dissatisfied' with slow service; an employee who feels underpaid year after year becomes 'discontented'; a teacher might be 'displeased' by a student's rude remark. Use 'unsatisfied' (sense 1) when the focus is on a shortfall in quantity or quality rather than a purely emotional reaction.

dissatisfied ↗discontented ↗displeased ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • remain unsatisfied
  • feel unsatisfied
  • leave someone unsatisfied

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'satisfied', which comes from the Latin 'satisfacere' meaning 'to do enough, to make enough'. The word has been used since the 1500s to describe people whose expectations or needs have not been fully met.