Meaning & use
displeased
Last updated
UK/dɪsˈpliːzd/
US/dɪsˈpliːzd/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Slightly angry or unhappy because something has not met your wishes or expectations.
Grammar: Used after be or look, often with with or at: she was displeased with the result.
Patterns
- displeased with something
- displeased at something
- displeased to hear something
The manager was displeased with the late report.
She looked displeased when they arrived an hour late.
I was displeased to find the room still dirty.
Word forms
| comparative | more displeased |
|---|---|
| superlative | most displeased |
Common combinations
- deeply displeased
- The coach was deeply displeased by the performance.
- displeased with
- Customers were displeased with the delay.
- clearly displeased
- Her father looked clearly displeased.
- be displeased to hear
- We were displeased to hear about the change.
Synonyms and how they differ
- annoyed
- More common and conversational; displeased sounds more formal and restrained.
- dissatisfied
- Focuses on not getting what you hoped for, rather than on a personal reaction.
- unhappy
- Wider and can mean sad; displeased is about disapproval.
Opposites
Word family
- displease verb
- to make someone annoyed or unhappy
- displeasure noun
- a feeling of annoyance or disapproval
- displeasing adjective
- unpleasant or annoying
Practice
The teacher was ___ the students' careless homework.
Choose one answer.
Displeased is followed by with, at, or by before the cause of annoyance. Of, in, and for are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
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