displeasure

English

Etymology

From Old French desplaisir. See displease.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈplɛʒə/
• (US) enPR: dĭs-plĕzhʹər, IPA^(key): /dɪsˈplɛʒɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɛʒə(ɹ)

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

displeasure (usually uncountable, plural displeasures)

1. A feeling of being displeased with something or someone; dissatisfaction; disapproval.
   • 2011 October 20, Michael da Silva, “Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Tangling with Ziv, Cameron caught him with a flailing elbow, causing the Israeli defender to go down a little easily. However, the referee was in no doubt, much to the displeasure of the home fans.

2. That which displeases; cause of irritation or annoyance; offence; injury.
   • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Hast thou delight to see a wretched man / Do outrage and displeasure to himself?

3. A state of disgrace or disfavour.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     [King Lear] charged me, on pain of their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him [Edgar], entreat for him, nor any way sustain him.

   • 1622, Henry Peacham, The compleat gentleman fashioning him absolute in the most necessary & commendable qualities concerning minde or bodie that may be required in a noble gentleman.‎, page 101:

     [H]ee went into Poland, being in displeasure with the pope for ouermuch familiaritie with a kinswoman of his.

Synonyms

• (feeling of being displeased with someone or something): discontent, discontentment, dissatisfaction, unhappiness
• (pain, discomfort): ache, discomfort, pain
• (disapproval): condemnation, disapprobation, disapproval

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "feeling of being displeased with someone or something"): contentment, happiness, pleasure, satisfaction
• (antonym(s) of "pain"): ease
• (antonym(s) of "disapproval"): approbation, approval, blessing

Derived terms

• displeasurable
• take a displeasure, take displeasure
• displeasurement

Translations

Verb

displeasure (third-person singular simple present displeasures, present participle displeasuring, simple past and past participle displeasured)

1. (archaic) To displease or offend.