Word
displeasure
Phoneticsdis·plea·sure, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪsˈpɫɛʒɝ/
UK/dɪsplˈɛʒɐ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“The manager showed his displeasure with the late report.”
“She made no attempt to hide her displeasure when the meeting was delayed for the third time.”
“The monarch's quiet displeasure was enough to silence the room, as even a subtle frown from the throne carried significant political weight.”
Examples
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'.
Real-World Examples
“He has also expressed displeasure with other allies for their hesitance to get involved in the conflict, including Japan, France and the UK.” “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.” Etymology
From Old French desplaisir, equivalent to dis- + pleasure. See displease.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/displeasure