English Reference
Noun

displeasure

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /dɪsˈpɫɛʒɝ/ UK /dɪsplˈɛʒɐ/ dis·plea·sure UK spelling displeasured, displeasures, displeasuring

n.a feeling of being unhappy or annoyed with someone or something. It is a more formal way to say you are not pleased.

n.a feeling of annoyance, dissatisfaction, or mild anger. Often used to describe the reaction of an authority figure to a subordinate's actions.


SIMPLE

The manager showed his displeasure with the late report.

CONTEXTUAL

She made no attempt to hide her displeasure when the meeting was delayed for the third time.

COMPLEX

The monarch's quiet displeasure was enough to silence the room, as even a subtle frown from the throne carried significant political weight.

Usage

Uncountable in its general sense; often follows verbs like 'show', 'express', or 'voice'.

He has also expressed displeasure with other allies for their hesitance to get involved in the conflict, including Japan, France and the UK.

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

They also showed displeasure at the ownership that has overseen the slide and earned the right to boo as their viewing journeyed between subpar and unacceptable.

The Guardian· 16 Aug 2026

From Old French desplaisir, equivalent to dis- + pleasure. See displease.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated