1
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
parents who became increasingly dismayed by their son's foundering marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disconcerting
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismaying
Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
—Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024
And yet the industry is beset by a dismaying trend: More and more, people are watching movies on their laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2014
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Verb
For the Congolese government, the ineffective Western responses follow a dismaying pattern.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
—Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024
And yet the industry is beset by a dismaying trend: More and more, people are watching movies on their laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2014
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismaying
Verb
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As far as Young goes, the Week 1 performance was discouraging.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Speaker Johnson is giving the high ground to the Democrats by discouraging Thomas Massie's petition.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The tackling was alarming enough that the Broncos were practicing on Monday with live tackles, something that’s not seen too often once the season starts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Sep. 2025
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The news was saddening for Jewell — but also alarming for the defense.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For some—for me—the experience of certain kinds of anxiety has a disconcerting synesthetic quality.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
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The disconcerting answer is that nobody knows.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Unfollow accounts that regularly share disturbing images.—
Annie Margaret,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
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The second sounds like every other LinkedIn message disturbing their peace and cluttering their inbox.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Seeing that textbook go to waste felt very disheartening.—
Sami Khan,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This willingness of the AI to heap praise and act as a sycophant has worrying consequences for the populace as a whole.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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In fact, Federal Reserve policymakers have already started worrying about the housing market.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Either way, a wrist injury would help explain the rather troubling start for Thomas, who was profiled to be one of the best wide receivers in all of football coming into the 2025 season.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Regardless of which direction the program goes at Head Coach, or if Iamaleava will stay for his junior season, the fact that UCLA is already looking towards next year in Week 3 is troubling enough.—
Tyler Small,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With Jorgen Strand Larsen, who scored vital goals last season, suffering from an injury and a distracting transfer saga amid interest from Newcastle, Pereira has had to work with three crucial players through the spine of his team either missing or below par.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Here, the challenge was capturing speed, altitude, and precision in a way that feels immediate without distracting from the story.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismaying. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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