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
Much to the consternation of the fan base, that distinction belongs to the 49ers based on being one of the first teams to play two international games in the same season (Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia, and Week 11 in Mexico City).
—
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
And while the memorandum of understanding that includes that guarantee — signed by CFP leaders long before the Irish were excluded last December but brought back into public focus amid the fallout — caused some consternation among ACC coaches here, Bevacqua considers that old news.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Of course, large gatherings of teens have long caused consternation and fear among the olds.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
There has been much conversation and consternation lately over the expansion of both the College Football Playoff and NCAA Tournament.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
And while the memorandum of understanding that includes that guarantee — signed by CFP leaders long before the Irish were excluded last December but brought back into public focus amid the fallout — caused some consternation among ACC coaches here, Bevacqua considers that old news.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Of course, large gatherings of teens have long caused consternation and fear among the olds.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
There has been much conversation and consternation lately over the expansion of both the College Football Playoff and NCAA Tournament.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
While the days of wearing in-flight formalwear are long gone (much to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s dismay), there are wardrobe clues that may imply someone is headed to a boardroom and not the beach.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
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In addition to her comment on McDonald's post, Yvette Nicole Brown also expressed her dismay over Pratt's run on Threads.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement Xi’s invocation of Thucydides’ Trap comes at a time when tensions between the rival superpowers could boil over on any of a number of issues, from trade to AI to Taiwan.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
15 May 2026
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Senator Peter Welch framed the same tension through affordability, arguing that the system increasingly shifts costs, complexity and administrative burden across institutions while patients experience rising anxiety and diminishing visibility into how care decisions are made.—
Demetri Giannikopoulos,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Its candor incited a small-scale moral panic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The events triggered a sense of panic among Democrats.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Though the vote still failed largely along party lines, Murkowski's flip was a warning sign for the White House about the unease of some Republicans on Capitol Hill as the conflict drags on.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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Many Asian countries now count China as their largest trading partner, a reality that creates both opportunity and unease.—
Yu Jie,
Time,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Is rapid weight gain the cause of the patient’s distress?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Developer John Dewberry bought the building out of distress in 2010 for $36 million.—
Savannah Sicurella,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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