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Prepositions after adjectives

Disappointed with or disappointed in?

Disappointed with often refers to things, results, or experiences. Disappointed in commonly refers to a person's behaviour or qualities.

Quick answer

How do you use disappointed with and disappointed in?

Use disappointed with for products, services, situations, or outcomes. Use disappointed in mainly for people, especially their actions or character.

We were disappointed with the service.
She felt disappointed in her son.
I am disappointed with the result.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
disappointed with + thing or result

Reacting negatively to outcomes or experiences

Use with for situations, products, performances, and results.

They were disappointed with the hotel.
I felt disappointed with my exam score.
2
disappointed in + person

Reacting to someone's behaviour

Use in mainly when judging a person's actions, decisions, or character.

Her coach was disappointed in her.
I was disappointed in my brother for lying.
3
disappointed by + event or action

Emphasising the cause of disappointment

By focuses on the thing that caused the feeling.

We were disappointed by the delay.
She felt disappointed by his response.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
disappointed with
I was disappointed with the meal.
With is common for things, experiences, and results.
disappointed in
They were disappointed in their son.
In is common for people and their behaviour.
disappointed by
She was disappointed by the decision.
By highlights the cause.
disappointed at
He was disappointed at the news.
At is also possible with events or information.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in for objects or products

With is more natural for things and services.

✕ I was disappointed in the phone. ✓ I was disappointed with the phone.

Using with for moral judgement

In is preferred when talking about a person's behaviour.

✕ His parents were disappointed with him for cheating. ✓ His parents were disappointed in him for cheating.

Confusing by and in

By gives the cause, while in usually refers to a person.

✕ She was disappointed in the delay. ✓ She was disappointed by the delay.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We were disappointed ___ the final result.
2. His teacher was disappointed ___ him.
3. They were disappointed ___ the cancellation.

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Frequently asked questions

Can disappointed with be used for people?

Yes, especially in everyday speech, but disappointed in is more common when judging behaviour or character.

Is disappointed in only for people?

Mostly yes. It usually refers to people or qualities connected to them.

What is the difference between disappointed by and disappointed with?

By emphasises the cause, while with often focuses on the overall experience or result.

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