Basic Details
Word: Discontent
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A feeling of being unhappy or not satisfied, especially with the way things are.
Synonyms: dissatisfaction, unhappiness, displeasure, unrest
Antonyms: contentment, satisfaction
How to Spell Discontent
Syllables: dis - con - tent
Tricky part: It ends in ent, not ant or end, and there is only one s.
Watch out for: discontant, disscontent, discontend
Memory tip: It is just content with dis in front. Picture an overcrowded tent: people squashed in a tent are full of discontent.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The new canteen menu caused a lot of discontent among the students.
Example 2: Farmers voiced their discontent about the late payment for their crops.
Example 3: A small spark of discontent can grow if nobody listens.
Fun Fact
Content has two pronunciations: CON-tent means what is inside something, while con-TENT means satisfied. Discontent is built on the second.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word discontent as used in the sentence:
There was growing discontent among the workers over the long night shifts.
a) unrest
b) anger
c) satisfaction
d) grumbling
Show answer
c) satisfaction. Satisfaction is what the workers would feel if the shifts were fair, so it is the opposite.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
disc_nte_t
a) o, n
b) a, n
c) u, n
d) o, m
Show answer
a) o, n. The word content is hiding here, so the gaps are its o and its last n.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. discontent 2. grievence 3. resentmant 4. agitasion
a) a complaint about something unfair
b) bitter anger at unfair treatment
c) unhappiness with the way things are
d) public protest or nervous worry
Show answer
c) unhappiness with the way things are. Each wrong word has a faulty ending (mant, ence, sion); discontent ends in ent as it should.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A town full of discontent is a town where people are ____.
a) unhappy with things
b) proud of their leaders
c) planning a festival
d) fast asleep at night
Show answer
a) unhappy with things
2. Which word means the same as discontented?
a) determined
b) dissatisfied
c) decorated
d) delighted
Show answer
b) dissatisfied
