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
-
To add to their dismay, there isn’t much technological difference between the Connect and the Port.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Outside state lines, the perception of The Big D aligns with the eponymous prime time soap opera saga, often mistaking the Stockyards as within city limits (much to neighboring Fort Worth’s dismay).—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But as the night wore on, that belief turned into tension.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Strong said improving basic conditions would help address the health of inmates and reduce tensions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Lord Cornwallis encountered these imperial priorities in 1778, when he was briefly ordered to leave America along with four thousand troops during a panic that the French might invade Jamaica.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
In the messages read out in court, the gang leader’s growing unease with the technology is apparent.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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The speed of the map’s passage — and the circumstances surrounding it — have fueled outrage among Democrats and even unease within some Republican circles.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 7 May. 2026.
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