as in dismay
formal
a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of consternation
The fact that that has been Trump’s one and only cover on the Condé Nast fashion magazine has been a point of consternation with FLOTUS, since several of her predecessors were cover stars during their White House years.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 25 Mar. 2025
The bottom line: Amid lots of consternation about the emerging technology taking people's jobs, a growing number of workers are landing new roles working with it.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
Trump’s approach has caused consternation across much of Europe, as other nations try to figure out how to shore up Ukraine’s position against the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump threatened in recent weeks to blanket all imports from both countries with new duties (whether or not they were covered by the free-trade agreement), much to the consternation of Mexican and Canadian leaders.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 25 Mar. 2025
The bottom line: Amid lots of consternation about the emerging technology taking people's jobs, a growing number of workers are landing new roles working with it.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
Trump’s approach has caused consternation across much of Europe, as other nations try to figure out how to shore up Ukraine’s position against the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump threatened in recent weeks to blanket all imports from both countries with new duties (whether or not they were covered by the free-trade agreement), much to the consternation of Mexican and Canadian leaders.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
Leitch expressed his dismay at the lack of recognition for stunt performers during an interview with Entertainment Weekly last year.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
In France, dismay at Mr. Trump’s policies is widespread and the national mood is uneasy.—
Roger Cohen,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Taylor compared the tension producers navigate to that of the lawyers in the room.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Despite escalating trade tensions and market turbulence since Trump took office in January, the economy remains in solid shape by several key measures.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump faces growing pushback from his own party The markets were still in a panic on Monday when an unverified report circulated that the president was considering a 90-day pause on the tariffs.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
-
As the deadline for obtaining a Real ID approaches, many Americans are scrambling to secure an appointment, some expressing panic over long delays at state DMVs.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Even when upheaval isn’t imminent within your organization, broad societal and economic shifts can create a sense of unease, as external stressors inevitably impact workplace morale.—
Michael McFall,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
What is new, however, is the atmosphere of unease ushered in by Donald Trump’s return to power.—
Alex Ashley,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
At the Santa Monica test location after the rains, the level of beryllium — a metal that is toxic to fish and corals and causes respiratory distress in humans — was more than 10 times the maximum limit allowed.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The result: Some doctors and hospitals have held back on treatments, waiting for the fetal heartbeat to stop or for patients to wind up in undeniable distress.—
Kavitha Surana,
ProPublica,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share