discontent
Simmering inner frustration
Discontent is dissatisfaction with one's circumstances—a restless unhappiness that something isn't as it should be.
The workers' discontent grew as wages stagnated.
As an adjective, discontent means dissatisfied: She was discontent with the arrangement.
The noun often appears with modifiers suggesting it might lead to action: simmering discontent, growing discontent, the winter of our discontent.
State of being displeased
- unhappinessEmotional distress or woe
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
restlessness · malaise · unease · disgruntlement · bitterness · irritation · agitation · disquiet
Weary, listless dissatisfaction
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
longing · searching · unfulfillment · restlessness · purposelessness · disillusionment · weltschmerz · malaise
State of public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
dissent · agitation · grievance · opposition · movement · demonstration · strike · activism
Unequal distribution of resources
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- alienationState of being isolated
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
oppression · exploitation · disparity · grievance · class · poverty · discrimination · exclusion
dissatisfaction
State of being displeased
- unhappinessEmotional distress or woe
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
displeasure · restlessness · malaise · unease · disgruntlement · bitterness · irritation · agitation · disquiet · vexation
ennui
Weary, listless dissatisfaction
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
yearning · longing · searching · unfulfillment · restlessness · purposelessness · disillusionment · weltschmerz · malaise · anomie
unrest
State of public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
revolt · dissent · agitation · grievance · opposition · movement · demonstration · strike · activism · resistance
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- alienationState of being isolated
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
disenfranchisement · oppression · exploitation · disparity · grievance · class · poverty · discrimination · exclusion · voicelessness
- dissatisfactiondissatisfaction, displeasure, frustration, disappointment, unfulfillment
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- DIS- wordsdisagree, disallow, disbelieve, disapprove, disarray
- discontentdissatisfaction, displeasure, unhappiness, frustration, resentment
- displeasuredispleasure, dissatisfaction, annoyance, irritation, resentment
- frustrationanger, annoyance, irritation, exasperation, impatience
discontentcontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
satisfaction · content · contentedness · satisfied · contented
discontentpeace
Freedom from disturbance
tranquility · serenity · calm · equanimity · ease
- winter of discontentCold season of hardship