dismaying

adjective

dis·​may·​ing dis-ˈmā-iŋ 

diz-

: causing feelings of alarmed concern or agitation

heard some dismaying news

… at a time when Hollywood was quietly panicking over dismaying financial statistics.

—Robert F. Moss

It is somewhat dismaying to see how far Mr. Jennings often goes in his zeal …

—Ronald Sanders

dismayingly

dis-ˈmā-iŋ-lē 

diz-

adverb

a dismayingly long list of problems

This is a place where achieving any sort of closure on important national traumas … has proved dismayingly elusive.

—Max Rodenbeck

Examples of dismaying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps the most dismaying sentiment in this gloomy film is delivered by an anonymous comedy fan who apparently bought a ticket to watch C.K. perform at Madison Square Garden last year. —Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 11 July 2024

Biden’s senescence wasn’t the only dismaying thing about the debate. —The Editors, National Review, 28 June 2024

Seeing such a disarming man with infamous smarm and charm lie and twist under questioning was dazzling and dismaying, even before the final hot mic moment. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

This impersonality is all the more dismaying because the dramatic crux of the film is exceptionally effective. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above