malcontent

[ mal-kuhn-tent ]

adjective

1. not satisfied or content with currently prevailing conditions or circumstances.
2. dissatisfied with the existing government, administration, system, etc.

noun

1. a malcontent person, especially one who is chronically discontented or dissatisfied.

   Synonyms: complainer, grumbler, faultfinder

malcontent

/ ˈmælkənˌtɛnt /

adjective

1. disgusted or discontented

noun

1. a person who is malcontent

Other Words From

• malcon·tented·ly adverb
• malcon·tented·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of malcontent¹

1575–85; < Middle French, Old French; mal-, content ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of malcontent¹

C16: from Old French

Example Sentences

If a coworker or kin finds herself cornered in a dour discussion with the malcontent, she will activate the most creative parts of her mind to engineer an excuse to exit the encounter.

From Salon

The former first minster said ordinarily "reasonable, supportive" people in his party -and not only the “usual malcontents” - told him that Mr Harvie's comments had made the Bute House Agreement “very difficult to sustain”.

From BBC

Then on Wednesday, the 71-year-old former coal mine worker, onetime stone mason and lifelong malcontent was charged with opening fire at point-blank range on Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia.

From New York Times

There is no one guiding idea or philosophy that binds the malcontents together either, beyond 'it looks grim, surely we need to do something or else we're out of a job?'

From BBC

Flannery O’Connor’s thrillingly hard-edged tales about the unreconstructed South and its redemption-deficient malcontents will never lose their power to scratch us awake with their violence, humor and ugly truth.

From Los Angeles Times