disappointment

noun

dis·​ap·​point·​ment ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint-mənt How to pronounce disappointment (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of disappointing : the state or emotion of being disappointed
2
: one that disappoints
he's a disappointment to his parents

Examples of disappointment in a Sentence

She couldn't hide her disappointment. He's a disappointment to his parents.
Recent Examples on the Web So both teams share disappointment, albeit different levels of it. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023 Even with the smoothest shopping, there’s still the risk of waste, of disappointment, of future inconvenience, of money lost to the fine print. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2023 While the loss was a disappointment, Jason’s despair was short-lived as Kylie gave birth to their third daughter, Bennett, just days after the game. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023 The mental health disappointment came toward the end of the Carter presidency. Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023 Losing the takeaway battle 3-0 Saturday doomed the Trojans to an uncompetitive disappointment. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023 But there’s also a risk of disappointment given elevated expectations, with the stock closing at a record on Tuesday. Jeran Wittenstein, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 These experiences of disappointment can create a reluctance to trust new people, forming a barrier in the development of meaningful relationships. Mark Travers, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 When Trotta's divers return to the surface from their first dive of the day, there’s a sense of disappointment – no gold this time, just a few pieces of coral. Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disappointment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disappointment was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near disappointment

Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disappointment. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

disappointment

noun
dis·​ap·​point·​ment ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint-mənt How to pronounce disappointment (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of disappointing : the state or emotion of being disappointed
2
: one that disappoints
the play was a disappointment

More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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