contentment
/kənˈtentmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈtentmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈtent-mənt/ (ame, mw)
contentment — noun
1. The calm, pleasant feeling of being happy and satisfied with what you have, with
The calm, pleasant feeling of being happy and satisfied with what you have, without wanting or needing more.
After years of hard work, Mei-Lin finally found a sense of contentment in her quiet village life.
found contentment in [situation/place]
The old fisherman sat on the dock each evening, smoking his pipe with quiet contentment.
with quiet contentment — manner adverbial
After a long hike, Sofia sat on a rock and ate lunch with deep contentment.
Chloe watched the sunset from her balcony, feeling a deep contentment she had never known before.
No amount of money or fame could bring Kwame the deep contentment he found in his garden.
- satisfaction
More general — can come from completing a task or meeting a goal, not necessarily tied to one's whole situation.
- fulfillment
Stronger sense of purpose being achieved; more active than contentment's quiet acceptance.
- happiness
Broader and more common; can refer to short-lived joy in addition to lasting well-being.
- peace of mind
Focuses on the absence of worry rather than the presence of positive satisfaction.
- discontent
The direct opposite — a feeling of wanting more or being dissatisfied with one's situation.
- dissatisfaction
Strong emphasis on unmet needs or expectations.
文法句型
a sense/feeling of + contentment
contentment + with + noun phrase
in contentment (adverbial)
用法筆記
Unlike 'happiness,' which can describe a short burst of joy, contentment suggests a deeper, more lasting emotional state tied to acceptance of one's circumstances. It is most common in formal and literary writing rather than everyday conversation.