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
Proxy advisory firms like ISS and Glass Lewis provide recommendations on how major investors like pension funds should vote on corporate decisions and at shareholder meetings — sometimes to the consternation of other shareholders or even corporate executives.
—
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
To the certain consternation of the Islamic Republic, Googoosh and her generation of musicians have only grown in stature.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Genesis‘s latest splash is a performance station wagon, which is not the kind of car that will cause any great consternation at Porsche but does check a box on Genesis’s long road to respectability.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2025
That should cause some consternation among eagle-eyed economists, sourcing agents, retailers and shoppers alike.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
To the certain consternation of the Islamic Republic, Googoosh and her generation of musicians have only grown in stature.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Genesis‘s latest splash is a performance station wagon, which is not the kind of car that will cause any great consternation at Porsche but does check a box on Genesis’s long road to respectability.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2025
That should cause some consternation among eagle-eyed economists, sourcing agents, retailers and shoppers alike.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
There is bafflement alongside the dismay.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
-
My seven-year-old, the daredevil of the family, was just an inch or so off the height requirements for zip lining high above the Central Park neighborhood and the FlowRider surf simulator, much to her dismay.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In August 2023, Starsiak Hawk opened up about tension between her and her family on her podcast, Mina AF.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
South Korean officials have said that Lee and Takaichi would likely touch on the tensions between China and Japan on Lee’s two-day visit.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the basement level before engulfing the upper floor.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Kaitlin spent the first weeks of her newborn son’s life in a panic.—
Lucas Waldron,
ProPublica,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But a sense of unease overshadows it.—
Laura Turbay,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Today the sprawling complex is a museum and visitor attraction, where a sense of unease lurks along paved tourist trails and lingers in dark corridors.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The West African nation was last year among 23 sub-Saharan African countries at risk of debt distress, according to the World Bank, and rising debt service costs have long stymied government spending in vital areas such as education, health, and infrastructure.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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The complaint claims that ChatGPT romanticized death and reassured Gordon during moments of emotional distress.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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