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Definition of disgruntle

disgruntle

/dɪsˈɡrʌn.təl/
dis · grun · tle
Adverb:disgruntledly
•
Adjective:disgruntled
•
Past Simple:disgruntled
•
Past Participle:disgruntled
•
Present Participle:disgruntling
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disgruntle Lexical Profile

disgruntle Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make someone dissatisfied, discontented, or ill-humored; to put into a state of sulky resentment.

Example

"The sudden cancellation of the annual bonus threatened to disgruntle the entire workforce."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for disgruntle
Antonyms
View all antonyms for disgruntle

Word Nuance & Usage

The base verb "disgruntle" is relatively rare in modern usage compared to its ubiquitous participial adjective "disgruntled." Additionally, here "dis-" functions as an intensive prefix meaning "utterly" rather than a negative prefix; the humorous modern verb "gruntle" (to make happy) was later coined as a playful back-formation.

• Rhymes for disgruntle

• Nearby Words

disgraceful
disgracefully
disgracefulness
disgruntle
disgruntled
disgruntlement
disguise

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 17th century from the intensive prefix "dis-" (meaning "utterly" or "completely") and the dialectal English verb "gruntle" (to grumble or complain, a frequentative form of "grunt").

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Disgruntle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/disgruntle
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