disgruntle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, sometimes found in journalistic or descriptive contexts.
Quick answer
What does “disgruntle” mean?
To make someone dissatisfied, resentful, or ill-tempered, especially because their expectations have not been met.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make someone dissatisfied, resentful, or ill-tempered, especially because their expectations have not been met.
The word refers to the action of causing annoyance or disappointment that leads to a state of sulky discontent. It implies a sense of being let down or treated unfairly, moving from potential satisfaction to active grumpiness. It is almost exclusively used in its participial adjective form 'disgruntled'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
The word often carries a slightly formal or even slightly humorous tone, sometimes downplaying the seriousness of the discontent.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, but the difference is marginal. In both varieties, the adjective 'disgruntled' is the dominant form.
Grammar
How to Use “disgruntle” in a Sentence
[sb] disgruntles [sb/sth] (rare, active)[sb/sth] is disgruntled[sb] feels disgruntled[sb] becomes disgruntleddisgruntled at/with/about/over/by [sth]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disgruntle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council's decision to cancel the festival is sure to disgruntle many residents.
- Constant delays on the railway line continue to disgruntle commuters.
American English
- The company's new policy on vacation time is likely to disgruntle its workforce.
- A sudden change in the rules never fails to disgruntle the players.
adverb
British English
- He muttered disgruntledly about the queue before leaving the shop. (very rare)
American English
- She sighed disgruntledly and closed the lengthy report. (very rare)
adjective
British English
- The disgruntled passengers demanded compensation for the cancelled flight.
- He wrote a disgruntled letter to the editor about the state of the pavements.
American English
- Disgruntled voters turned out in low numbers for the primary election.
- A few disgruntled former employees have posted negative reviews online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in HR and management contexts to describe unhappy staff or clients.
Academic
Rare; more likely in sociological or political writing about dissatisfied groups.
Everyday
Used, but the adjective 'disgruntled' is more natural than the verb.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disgruntle”
- Using the base verb 'disgruntle' actively (e.g., 'The policy disgruntles me' is grammatically correct but highly unnatural). The correct form is 'The policy *makes me disgruntled*' or 'I *am disgruntled* by the policy.'
- Confusing 'disgruntled' with 'disgruntled' (no such word).
- Using it for severe anger or grief; it connotes petulance more than rage.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare. The verb form is grammatically correct but almost never used in active constructions (e.g., 'X disgruntles Y'). The past participle 'disgruntled' functioning as an adjective is the standard, common form.
'Disgruntled' implies a specific kind of discontent: sulky, resentful, and often petty dissatisfaction, usually due to unmet expectations or perceived unfair treatment. 'Upset' is broader and can refer to any emotional disturbance, from sadness to anxiety to anger.
Yes, but it is obsolete or humorous. Historically, 'gruntle' meant to grunt or complain. In modern humorous use, 'gruntled' is occasionally coined as an antonym to 'disgruntled', meaning pleased or satisfied.
Typically no. 'Disgruntled' almost exclusively describes the emotional state of a person or group of people (e.g., disgruntled employees, fans, citizens). It is not used for objects or abstract concepts.
To make someone dissatisfied, resentful, or ill-tempered, especially because their expectations have not been met.
Disgruntle is usually formal, sometimes found in journalistic or descriptive contexts. in register.
Disgruntle: in British English it is pronounced /dɪsˈɡrʌnt(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪsˈɡrʌnt(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to be) disgruntled of [place] (a humorous journalistic formula for a letter-writer, e.g., 'Disgruntled of Tunbridge Wells')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIScontent + GRUNTLE (an archaic word meaning 'to grunt' or 'complain'). To dis-gruntle is to make someone start complaining.
Conceptual Metaphor
SATISFACTION IS A FULL CONTAINER / DISCONTENT IS A LEAK. Disgruntling someone is like poking a hole in their container of satisfaction, letting the good feeling drain out, leaving only grumpy noises (grunts).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'disgruntled' most naturally?