1
as in disappointment
the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met
filled with dismay at not making the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
in my dismay I failed to realize that there would be other chances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to concern
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
parents who became increasingly dismayed by their son's foundering marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismay
Aarushi Bhandari,
The Conversation,
19 June 2026
The Freedom 250 event featured seven UFC cage matches on the White House South Lawn, to the dismay of many bipartisan citizens.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
The American public is dismayed and frustrated that Congress is not stepping up to protect our nation against the extreme tyranny of this administration.
—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Noun
The iconic toys from the series – Woody, Buzz Lightyear, the Potato Heads, Forky and Slinky Dog – then watch in dismay as Bonnie casts them all aside in favor of the bright tablet screen.
—
Aarushi Bhandari,
The Conversation,
19 June 2026
The Freedom 250 event featured seven UFC cage matches on the White House South Lawn, to the dismay of many bipartisan citizens.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Verb
Stephen Curry, who initially was dismayed the Warriors had let Jackson go, led the team in scoring with 24 points.
—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
The American public is dismayed and frustrated that Congress is not stepping up to protect our nation against the extreme tyranny of this administration.
—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
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Buffalo State Pizza Company owner Philippe Lechevin expressed slight disappointment in the business his pizzeria and bar’s Crossroads location has seen in the two weeks since the World Cup began.
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Reaction among Lions fans in Detroit has ranged from shock to disappointment.
Noun
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Rather than wallow in the despair of his wife's death, Robin decided to start Kay Days, a non-profit that pays for patients' parking on select days and during the week of his beloved wife's birthday.
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That poor driver had to listen to me sniffle in shameful despair all the way back to the city.
Verb
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In 2011, the bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission determined that the crisis was triggered in part by Greenspan’s failure to discourage trade in securities backed by subprime mortgage loans amid an unsustainable housing boom and his promotion of financial industry deregulation.
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The color yellow attracts yellow jackets and other pollinating insects, so the all-red design increases your chances of attracting hummingbirds and discourages bees and wasps from staking claim over the sweet nectar.
Verb
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On Election Day, Schlossberg was campaigning out in the rain despite the concerning polls, hearing stories from passersby about their Kennedy encounters over the years and taking selfies with starstruck supporters.
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One of the increasingly concerning threats is drones, which can be piloted remotely and are difficult to disable.
Noun
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Those frustrations could be on the verge of boiling over.
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But without knowing the reasons behind those decisions, the criticism amounts to nothing more than frustrations over unmet expectations.
Verb
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Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
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David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
Verb
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The bill’s impact on the massive pension system alarmed CalPERS’ staff, who estimated that premiums would increase by over $28 a month per member in the first year of the bill.
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So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
Noun
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There was a mixed reaction from the meeting as parents and community members packed the room to express their concerns and dissatisfaction with the decision.
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In Moscow, the situation is creating a public relations problem for the Kremlin, which is already facing growing internal dissatisfaction with Putin and war fatigue.
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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