malcontent
UK: /ˌmal.kənˈtent/ | US: /ˌmæl.kənˈtent/
n. a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious
adj. dissatisfied and complaining
malcontent = mal<bad> + content<satisfied>
- mal (from Latin malus, meaning "bad" or "ill")
- content (from Latin contentus, meaning "satisfied" or "contained")
Etymology Origin:
The word "malcontent" emerged in the late 16th century, combining the French mal- (bad) and content (satisfied). It originally described a person chronically dissatisfied with authority or societal norms, often a rebel or troublemaker. The prefix mal- intensifies the negative sense of content, creating a vivid term for perpetual discontent.
The malcontent workers staged a protest against unfair wages.
His malcontent attitude made him unpopular among his peers.
She wrote a malcontent letter criticizing the government’s policies.
The novel’s protagonist is a malcontent artist who rejects societal conventions.
Malcontent voices grew louder as the crisis worsened.