dissatisfied

Dissatisfied is an adjective describing a feeling of displeasure or lack of satisfaction with a person, situation, outcome, or experience. It denotes that something did not meet one’s expectations, standards, or needs, and may range from mild annoyance to strong discontent.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from dis- plus satisfied, with the sense in English dating from the early modern period. The related noun is dissatisfaction; the verb form dissatisfied or dissatisfy is rarely used in ordinary speech, but exists in formal or literary contexts.

Contexts and implications: In everyday language, people are dissatisfied when results fall short of what they anticipated. In consumer behavior, dissatisfaction can prompt complaints, returns, or brand switching. In the workplace, job dissatisfaction is linked to reduced motivation and higher turnover, though it can also motivate improvement.

Relation to other terms: Dissatisfied is closely related to discontent and displeasure; antonyms include satisfied, content, and pleased. It is often used to describe a state rather than a permanent condition, and can be temporary or persistent depending on circumstances.