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.
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Recent Examples of consternation
As the prices of houses has continued to increase in nominal terms, which represents a legitimate and ongoing source of political and economic consternation for investors, taxpayers, and policymakers alike, an alternative method of pricing and valuation has continued to emerge.
—
Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Flores, who also exchanged words with Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman last Friday, did not stick around long enough to explain the source of his consternation in the seventh inning.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 26 June 2025
Much of the consternation among high-profile Trump backers stemmed from the president’s teasing the possibility of regime change in Iran.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 25 June 2025
That rotation has since become a source of consternation with each individual next in line, wondering if his predecessor will step aside.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Flores, who also exchanged words with Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman last Friday, did not stick around long enough to explain the source of his consternation in the seventh inning.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 26 June 2025
Much of the consternation among high-profile Trump backers stemmed from the president’s teasing the possibility of regime change in Iran.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 25 June 2025
That rotation has since become a source of consternation with each individual next in line, wondering if his predecessor will step aside.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
Bayern forward Harry Kane was on his knees, checking on Musiala’s well-being, as was captain Joshua Kimmich, who took one look at his young team-mate’s left leg and turned away in apparent dismay.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
-
The legislation also has a large-scale rollback of clean-energy initiatives, to the dismay of everyone from climate activists to Elon Musk.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
But tensions in their relationship began to show whenMusk, the world’s richest person, began blasting Trump’s signature spending bill last month, taking issue with its provision to raise the debt ceiling.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
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Part of that highlights a tension within megachurch culture.—
Liam Adams,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Although the frustration of supporters is shared internally, there is no sense of panic — which is unlikely to pacify fans understandably impatient for additions following three successive windows without a first-XI signing.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
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In a recent case, a prior beef between two people led to gunshots inside Castleton Square Mall on Dec. 23 – prompting panic and an evacuation of the center on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.—
Sarah Nelson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Noun
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However, there is unease in the market about supply exceeding demand from 2027 onward, and a potential glut that could persist to the end of the decade dragging prices lower.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
There is a certain unease that settles over a place when a familiar landmark begins to dissolve.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Buildings continue to fall into economic distress because of government’s housing policies.—
Alva Badillo,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
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In line with these ideas, researchers published findings in 2023 that showed that meditation increased people’s concern for the suffering of others—and that, by comparison, people without this practice were more oriented to their own distress.—
Mariah G. Schug,
Scientific American,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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