displease
verb
dis·please (ˌ)dis-ˈplēz 
displeased; displeasing; displeases
transitive verb
1
: to incur the disapproval or dislike of especially by annoying
their gossip displeases her
2
: to be offensive to
abstract art displeases him
intransitive verb
: to give displeasure
behavior calculated to displease
Synonyms
- disaffect
- discontent
- disgruntle
- dissatisfy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
her coworkers' tendency to pry displeased her
Recent Examples on the Web The news will likely displease several in the industry planning to head to the 2023 Berlinale, due to take place Feb. 16-23. 
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2022 DeWine has also been careful not to do anything during the past year that would further displease the Republican base. Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, 4 May 2022 Since the war began, Beijing has tried to displease neither Russia nor the international coalition opposing President Vladimir Putin — a position that is increasingly untenable. Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2022 Either approach can work, even if the adaptations that veer from the books inevitably displease some loyal readers. Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 The iPhone-maker is also aggressively and proactively censoring apps and other content that might displease Chinese regulators in the Chinese version of its App Store. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 18 May 2021 But the host of HBO’s Friday-night mainstay Real Time with Bill Maher is the only one of the left-of-center comics who occasionally says things that might displease his audience. Kyle Smith, National Review, 19 Apr. 2021 Take a dip in the wrong South American river or displease the wrong Bond villain, and some poor sap disappears in a froth of roiling water, blood and screams. Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Apr. 2021 As the day after Election Day dawns, the immediate task for Tuesday’s victor is likely to be more mundane and less ideological — and guaranteed to displease most Americans. Tyler Cowen Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 3 Nov. 2020 See More
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2022 DeWine has also been careful not to do anything during the past year that would further displease the Republican base. Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, 4 May 2022 Since the war began, Beijing has tried to displease neither Russia nor the international coalition opposing President Vladimir Putin — a position that is increasingly untenable. Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2022 Either approach can work, even if the adaptations that veer from the books inevitably displease some loyal readers. Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 The iPhone-maker is also aggressively and proactively censoring apps and other content that might displease Chinese regulators in the Chinese version of its App Store. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 18 May 2021 But the host of HBO’s Friday-night mainstay Real Time with Bill Maher is the only one of the left-of-center comics who occasionally says things that might displease his audience. Kyle Smith, National Review, 19 Apr. 2021 Take a dip in the wrong South American river or displease the wrong Bond villain, and some poor sap disappears in a froth of roiling water, blood and screams. Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Apr. 2021 As the day after Election Day dawns, the immediate task for Tuesday’s victor is likely to be more mundane and less ideological — and guaranteed to displease most Americans. Tyler Cowen Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 3 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English displesen, from Anglo-French despleisir, desplere, from des- dis- + pleisir to please — more at please
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
displease
verb
dis·please dis-ˈplēz
displeased; displeasing
: to cause to feel unhappy or unsatisfied
displeasing 1 of 2
adjective
as in unpleasing
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses the new hotel is a displeasing mix of architectural styles Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unpleasing
- unpleasant
- harsh
- bad
- ugly
- sour
- horrible
- bitter
- disagreeable
- disgusting
- nasty
- awful
- sickening
- unpalatable
- unwelcome
- distasteful
- uncongenial
- rotten
- shocking
- wicked
- unlovely
- icky
- dreadful
- unsavory
- hideous
- annoying
- vile
- yucky
- irritating
- hateful
- repulsive
- repugnant
- obnoxious
- odious
- loathsome
- revolting
- abominable
- sick
- yukky
- abhorrent
- obscene
- offensive
- appalling
- horrid
- ghastly
- nauseating
- invidious
- unholy
- scandalous
- aggravating
- gross
- noisome
- beastly
- nauseous
- foul
- repellent
- hellish
- villainous
- vexing
- horrendous
- bilious
- revulsive
- miserable
- seamy
- galling
- gnarly
- god-awful
- wretched
- repellant
- lousy
- crummy
- crappy
- sucky
- cruddy
- crumby
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasant
- agreeable
- good
- grateful
- nice
- satisfying
- pleasing
- congenial
- pleasurable
- palatable
- welcome
- gratifying
- delightful
- delicious
- sweet
- charming
- friendly
- amiable
- kindly
- dreamy
- jolly
- felicitous
- delectable
- cheery
displeasing
2 of 2verb
as in dissatisfying
to make discontented her coworkers' tendency to pry displeased her Synonyms & Similar Words
- dissatisfying
- annoying
- irritating
- upsetting
- disturbing
- estranging
- alienating
- disaffecting
- perturbing
- disgruntling
- irking
- disquieting
- discontenting
- saddening
- depressing
- agitating
- nettling
- peeving
- discomposing
- aggrieving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasing
- gratifying
- satisfying
- contenting
- delighting
- tickling
- soothing
- calming
- gladdening
- tranquilizing
- tranquillizing
- finds fault
- finds fault (with)
- finds fault with
- finds for or against
- finds out
- findspot
- fine
- fine aggregate
- fine and dandy
- fine art
- fine by me
- fine champagne
- fine chemical
- fine cut
- fine frame
- fine gravel
- fine harness
- fine herbs
- fine line
- fine of lands
- fine one to talk
- fine print
- fine sand
- fine sight
- fine structural