disgruntled

USAGE SUMMARY

"disgruntled" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is feeling discontent or unhappy with a situation, or resentful of a person. Example Sentence: After her boss scolded her for arriving late to work, Sally felt disgruntled.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

There were in fact only around 150 demonstrators gathered at the front of the Dáil, a figure that perhaps said more about Irish attitudes to the present economic crisis afflicting the Republic than a disgruntled builder battering down the gates.

The Guardian

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

But on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg performed a U-turn and promised to hand over all the tax rulings to the commission after Vestager announced she was extending her inquiry to all 28 EU countries.

The Guardian

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon [cowell]," the rapper further tweeted.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disgruntled" to describe someone who is unhappy and displeased, often with a sense of grievance. For instance, "disgruntled employees" are dissatisfied workers, and "disgruntled customers" are unhappy patrons.

Common error

Avoid using "disgruntled" for minor annoyances. The word implies a stronger level of dissatisfaction than simply being slightly irritated.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disgruntled" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing a state of dissatisfaction or discontent. Ludwig's examples show its typical usage in describing people's feelings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disgruntled" is a commonly used adjective to describe someone feeling dissatisfied, often with a sense of grievance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While it's appropriate in neutral and formal contexts, avoid using it for minor annoyances. Consider using synonyms like "dissatisfied", "discontented", or "aggrieved" to adjust the intensity. Examples from news and business sources illustrate its widespread use in describing people and situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dissatisfied

Direct synonym indicating a lack of satisfaction.

Discontented

Similar to dissatisfied, but implies a deeper sense of unease.

Displeased

A milder form of dissatisfaction.

Aggrieved

Suggests a feeling of having been wronged.

Resentful

Indicates a feeling of bitterness and indignation.

Malcontent

Refers to someone chronically dissatisfied and rebellious.

Frustrated

Implies a sense of being blocked from achieving a goal.

Irate

Signifies intense anger and frustration.

Irritated

Similar to annoyed, but potentially more persistent.

Annoyed

Suggests mild irritation.

FAQs

How to use "disgruntled" in a sentence?

You can use "disgruntled" to describe someone who is unhappy and displeased, often with a sense of grievance. For example, "The company faced numerous complaints from "disgruntled customers" after the product recall."

What can I say instead of "disgruntled"?

You can use alternatives like "dissatisfied", "discontented", or "aggrieved" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "disgruntled employees" or "ungruntled employees"?

"Disgruntled employees" is the correct term. "Ungruntled" is not a recognized word in standard English.

What's the difference between "disgruntled" and "disappointed"?

"Disgruntled" implies a sense of grievance and displeasure, often due to unfair treatment or unmet expectations. "Disappointed" simply means feeling let down or sad because something didn't happen as hoped.