Meaning & use

dissatisfy

verb·Academic

To fail to meet someone's expectations or needs, leaving them unhappy or unfulfilled.

See it in a sentence

The slow service and cold food dissatisfied nearly every customer at the new restaurant.

A vague job description often dissatisfies new hires once they learn their actual duties.

A note on using this word

Dissatisfy is less common than its adjective form 'dissatisfied'; speakers often prefer 'disappoint' or 'fail to satisfy' instead.

Words with a similar meaning

disappointdisplease

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

satisfyplease

Make it your own

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