Definition of consternation
: amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion the two … stared at each other in consternation, and neither knew what to do — Pearl Buck
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Examples of consternation in a Sentence
The fact that the exact depth was recorded on the bottles was the source of considerable consternation among the admirals presiding over the Navy inquiry last week. The depth an attack sub can reach is supposed to be classified … . —Karen Breslau et al., Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2001
In the grimy market-places where so-called friendly intelligence services do their trading, tip-offs, like money, are laundered in all sorts of ways … . They can be blown up so as to cause consternation or tempered to encourage complacency. —John le Carré, Granta 35, Spring 1991
The King was relaxing; his face had softened. Awful, to have to banish this hard-earned peace, burden him with a fresh worry. But better he should hear it from his loyalest baron, his own brother, than have the news blurted out to him by some idiot agent avid to cause a maximum of consternation. —Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, 1990
The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue.
Much to her parents' consternation, she had decided to not go to college.
Recent Examples of consternation from the Web
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His comment caused consternation among colleagues in the government who were trying to persuade the world that Ireland had finally stabilized itself after the banking and housing crash of 2008.
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President Obama was notoriously aggressive in his policies toward leakers, to the consternation of many journalists and civil liberties lawyers.
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The push comes at a time of growing consternation among senior Republicans who say the White House has given them little direction on midterm planning.
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That’s one reason the Netflix titles caused such consternation.
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Apparently, the loss of valuable study time due to India’s power shortage problems and lack of proper, cheap lighting has been a source of consternation for educators for years.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consternation'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Wonder what the seemingly dissimilar words prostrate ("stretched out with face on the ground"), stratum ("layer"), and stratus ("a low cloud form extending over a large area") have in common with consternation? They are all thought to share the Latin ancestor sternere, meaning "to spread" or "to strike or throw down." Much to our consternation, we cannot make that sentence definitive: while prostrate, stratum, and stratus are clearly the offspring of sternere, etymologists will only go so far as to say that consternation comes from Latin consternare—and that they have a strong suspicion that consternare is another descendent of sternere.
Origin and Etymology of consternation
French or Latin; French, from Latin consternation-, consternatio, from consternare to throw into confusion, from com- + -sternare, probably from sternere to spread, strike down — more at strew
CONSTERNATION Defined for English Language Learners
consternation
playDefinition of consternation for English Language Learners
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: a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion
CONSTERNATION Defined for Kids
consternation
playDefinition of consternation for Students
: a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion But then Dopey Lekisch called out in consternation, "The messenger himself will trample the treasure." — Isaac Bashevis Singer, Zlateh the Goat
Learn More about consternation
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See words that rhyme with consternation Spanish Central: Translation of consternation Nglish: Translation of consternation for Spanish speakers
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