malcontent

C2 Topic:Describing People
US /ˌmæl.kənˈtɛnt/ UK /ˌmæl.kənˈtent/
noun adj Freq #66349

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a person who is dissatisfied with existing conditions, especially one who actively opposes an established authority or system

    Political malcontents organized a campaign against the ruling council.

  2. 2
    adj

    dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs; discontented or rebellious

    The malcontent faction refused to support the compromise.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a person who is... dissidentrebelcomplainer
2 adj · dissatisfied with the... discontenteddissatisfieddisaffected
Word family
Forms malcontents
Derived forms malcontentedmalcontentism
Related forms contentdiscontent

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French malcontent, formed from mal- ('badly; ill') + content ('satisfied'), ultimately from Latin contentus. English has used both the noun for a dissatisfied opponent and the adjective for someone dissatisfied with current conditions since the late sixteenth century.

Topics

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