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 challenges that now surround the operation in Iran — and its domestic ramifications — are causing at least some degree of consternation even among Republicans.
—
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2026
Every two years, elite athletes compete in the Olympics, biennial plants — like carrots and onions — produce seeds and people across America look on with consternation and mounting impatience as California counts its election ballots.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
That shared natural resource is a big reason Qatar has long maintained closer relations with Iran than its neighbors—to their consternation.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Other artists express consternation, not enthusiasm, about the potential of this new technology to upend the craft of making music and to diminish — or even eliminate — the need for human creativity and interaction.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2026
Every two years, elite athletes compete in the Olympics, biennial plants — like carrots and onions — produce seeds and people across America look on with consternation and mounting impatience as California counts its election ballots.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
That shared natural resource is a big reason Qatar has long maintained closer relations with Iran than its neighbors—to their consternation.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Other artists express consternation, not enthusiasm, about the potential of this new technology to upend the craft of making music and to diminish — or even eliminate — the need for human creativity and interaction.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
Perhaps the most volatile split ripped the aforementioned Cassie and Maddy apart, after the former struck up a relationship with Maddy's ex, Nate (Jacob Elordi), much to the latter's dismay.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
-
To his dismay, Frederik learned this week that FIFA had changed the seating map at Arrowhead.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit comes amid growing tension at the state Capitol between the Opportunity Caucus, made up of centrist Democrats, and the Progressive Caucus.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This is owing to the high pitch of the notes, the tension of the strings, and the small body of the instrument.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But in the absence of such attuned and invested adults, these panic responses can be sustained and lead to long-term changes in the way the child’s genes interact, the way the child’s brain develops and functions, and the way the child understands and interacts with others.—
Dr. Andrew Garner,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
And on top of all of that, nothing ensues panic quite like losing your cell phone in a foreign country (or anywhere for that matter).—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That feeling can present in many ways — rumination, a knot in your throat or your chest, an unease in your stomach, the tensing of muscles.—
Goth Shakira
Contributing,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
John Maynard Keynes famously predicted in the 1930s that by 2030, a 15-hour work week would be possible—and then asked, with obvious unease, what people would do with all that free time.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit includes claims for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In 2025, the hospital treated 257 children with puberty blockers and 549 with hormonal therapy for gender dysphoria, which is distress at the gap between a person’s sense of their gender and the way the world sees them.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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