malcontent

UK/ˈmal.kən.tɛnt/US/ˈmæl.kənˌtɛnt/

nounC2Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,896 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: malcontents

A malcontent is somebody always dissatisfied and stirring discontent. A few malcontents, dismissed as malcontents, the usual malcontents.

It is always used from above, since calling complainers malcontents is how authority describes people it does not intend to listen to. The French behind it is simply badly content.

Definitions of malcontent

1nounmalcontentSomebody always dissatisfied and stirring discontent.C2
“A few malcontents at the back kept interrupting the meeting with complaints.”

malcontent is a person.

Where it comes from

Middle French malcontent is mal, badly, plus content.

Middle French
malcontent
English, today
malcontent

From Middle French malcontent, from mal- + content; compare Latin malecontentus.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

malcontent in the wild

James Boswell called him "a sly, old malcontent".
John Cleland
Described by his contemporaries as a "professional malcontent", he was physically well-built at 6 ft 2 in and 195 lb, and had a stern and challenging demeanor.
Chick Gandil
The malcontent is a character type that often appeared in early modern drama.
Malcontent
Although an inconsistent and dissolute malcontent, he nevertheless showed considerable ability as a military leader and administrator.
Abatai
Thuwaini was forced to levy duties on various articles, creating malcontent.
Thuwaini bin Said

1 / 2

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

← Vocabulary