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Prepositions after adjectives

dissatisfied with, by, about, at or in?

Dissatisfied is most commonly followed by with. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts, but they usually express a different relationship.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after dissatisfied?

The standard pattern is dissatisfied with something or someone. Dissatisfied about is sometimes used for a situation or topic, but with is usually more natural. Dissatisfied by is uncommon and usually refers to the cause of the feeling. At and in are generally not used directly after dissatisfied as its main complement, though they can introduce separate place or situation details.

She was dissatisfied with the service.
Investors are dissatisfied with the results.
He seemed dissatisfied about the delay.
They were dissatisfied at the meeting because nothing was decided.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
dissatisfied with + thing/person

Expressing dissatisfaction with something specific

With is the standard preposition after dissatisfied.

Customers were dissatisfied with the refund policy.
I'm dissatisfied with my exam score.
2
dissatisfied about + situation/topic

Referring to a subject or issue

About can be used for topics or situations, although with is often more idiomatic.

Residents are dissatisfied about the lack of parking.
She felt dissatisfied about the final decision.
3
dissatisfied by + cause

Naming what caused the dissatisfaction

By is uncommon after dissatisfied but may appear when the emphasis is on the cause.

Voters were dissatisfied by the government's response.
He was dissatisfied by the explanation he received.
4
dissatisfied in/at + place or situation

Adding location or context

In and at usually introduce a separate context, not the complement selected by dissatisfied.

Several employees felt dissatisfied in the new office after the move.
She appeared dissatisfied at the interview but stayed polite.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
dissatisfied with
We are dissatisfied with the current system.
Standard and most common way to express dissatisfaction.
dissatisfied about
Parents were dissatisfied about the schedule changes.
Used for a topic or situation; with is often more natural.
dissatisfied by
The committee was dissatisfied by the report.
Focuses on the thing causing dissatisfaction; less common.
dissatisfied at
He looked dissatisfied at the press conference.
At introduces the setting, not the object of dissatisfaction.
dissatisfied in
Many workers felt dissatisfied in their new roles.
In introduces a situation or environment, not a direct complement.

Common mistakes

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

Using at as the main complement

At usually refers to a place or event, not the thing causing dissatisfaction.

✕ She is dissatisfied at her salary. ✓ She is dissatisfied with her salary.

Using in instead of with

In normally describes a situation or environment.

✕ They were dissatisfied in the service. ✓ They were dissatisfied with the service.

Overusing by

By is possible but less natural in many everyday contexts.

✕ I'm dissatisfied by my phone plan. ✓ I'm dissatisfied with my phone plan.

Confusing about and with

About focuses on the topic; with is usually the default choice.

✕ We are dissatisfied about the product quality. ✓ We are dissatisfied with the product quality.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was dissatisfied ___ the customer support.
2. Residents are dissatisfied ___ the proposed changes.
3. The audience was dissatisfied ___ the speaker's answer.

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Frequently asked questions

Is dissatisfied with the most common pattern?

Yes. Dissatisfied with is the standard and most natural construction in most situations.

Can I say dissatisfied about?

Yes, especially when referring to a topic or issue, but dissatisfied with is often preferred.

Are dissatisfied at and dissatisfied in correct?

They can appear when at or in introduces a place, event, or situation, but they are not usually the main complement after dissatisfied.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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