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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in disconcerting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarming
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dismay
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
It’s stirred up real emotions from fans, who have taken to social media platforms to express their dismay.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 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
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But the drum sound wasn’t nearly as dismaying as the studio’s piano, which kept slipping out of tune.
—Peter Ames Carlin, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Nicholas Dawidoff, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
That the Illini couldn’t complete their comeback attempt despite cutting it to four in the final minutes was dismaying.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Noun
In April, the industry group expressed dismay at the FAA’s call to roll back hundreds of flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport this summer to avoid worsening flight delays.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
It’s stirred up real emotions from fans, who have taken to social media platforms to express their dismay.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 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
Adjective
On top of this dismaying thought comes the realization that the AI is available 24x7 and at a low cost or perhaps even free.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But the drum sound wasn’t nearly as dismaying as the studio’s piano, which kept slipping out of tune.
—Peter Ames Carlin, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Thinking of my mother marooned in her house was dismaying to me.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
That the Illini couldn’t complete their comeback attempt despite cutting it to four in the final minutes was dismaying.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
-
For some advocacy groups, this latest attempt came as a huge disappointment.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
And to keep fighting to fulfill the promise of this nation, even in the face of cruelty and bitter disappointment.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Paula turns on a dime, expertly masks her horror, stress, and despair, and puts on a smile for her little girl.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
-
What happened last night was a double dip of despair.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
My advice to early career scientists is to follow your passion and not be discouraged by the current stress on the system.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
Kamada said the talent and experience of his teammates helped Japan avoid being discouraged after falling behind for a second time.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Wednesday’s most concerning threat will roar to life in the afternoon, but some potent storms will bubble up in the morning too in parts of southern Minnesota and eastern Iowa.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
Cabrera dismissed any idea that he was concerned the cramp could signal a far more serious issue.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Kiley left the Republican Party earlier this year, citing frustration with partisanship.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
In Ghana, there also remains frustration at the old FIFA rules which dictated that once a player had represented a country at youth level, he was bound to it forever.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The move royally frustrated Senate Republicans.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Who wouldn’t be frustrated after watching a team leave more than 30 runners on base over the last few days?—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
This poor girl no longer has an identity beyond pleasing her male companion, who becomes both stifled by alarmed by this sudden, non-consensual change in personality.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The closures shrink the countywide advanced voting location network from 18 to 12 voting sites — alarming some Johnson County and city officials and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Tehran has made the unfreezing of its assets a key demand in talks, hoping for relief months after unrest that was fueled in part by economic dissatisfaction.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
-
Body dissatisfaction, then, may not be solely located in the individual body or psyche.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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