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
The operation brought together the CIA officers and state authorities in Chihuahua, and that collaboration was a source of consternation for Mexican federal officials.
—
Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Phillips went back to the well on the next pitch and plunked Adames, prompting some consternation from San Francisco’s shortstop.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
A days-long web outage for California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is causing consternation for users and ripple effects for the agency.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The consternation about Iran, after all, stems from its hold over global oil and energy supplies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Phillips went back to the well on the next pitch and plunked Adames, prompting some consternation from San Francisco’s shortstop.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
A days-long web outage for California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is causing consternation for users and ripple effects for the agency.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The consternation about Iran, after all, stems from its hold over global oil and energy supplies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
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Candor can cause dismay in the UConn Health executive suite.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
To add to their dismay, there isn’t much technological difference between the Connect and the Port.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In the meantime, tensions remain high off the Iranian coast after the two sides exchanged fire May 7.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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Later, the Moon squares the Sun and could expose tension between private needs and outside expectations.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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During their first night together, just for an instant, Nikki appears to glitch, jerking back mid-kiss and looking at him with blind panic instead of undying affection.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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In other playoff action yesterday, the Thunder are verging on a back-to-back sweep of their own as the Lakers hit panic mode.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Meloni, weakened by a recent referendum defeat and facing public unease over the conflict, has insisted that any use of Italian bases for offensive operations would require parliamentary backing.—
Giada Zampano,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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Brent was trading above $100 a barrel on Friday, while shipping and insurance markets continue signaling deep unease despite periodic ceasefire headlines.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Noun
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That said, debt settlement can be a legitimate option, particularly for those who are already in severe financial distress, have accounts that have already gone to collections or are weighing bankruptcy as the alternative.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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Hantavirus is an illness carried by rodents that can spread to humans and cause acute respiratory distress.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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