1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

disappoint

verb

ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint How to pronounce disappoint (audio)
Definition of disappointnext
as in to fail
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of they were disappointed by the outcome of the big game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disappoint This analog solution is effective, though I was disappointed that the production turns one of the book’s creepiest visual images into an abstract rendering. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 People saw how a parliament works on the inside, even if they were disappointed by the outcome. — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026 The reality of the rural fund has left hospital leaders disappointed. — Daniel Payne, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 Tesla Tesla will either disappoint millions of fans, or finally be vindicated a little over two weeks from now. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disappoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disappoint
  1. fail
  2. cheat
  3. displease
  4. upset
Verb
  • Integrators who fail to capture this recurring subscription layer may risk losing clients to IT-native MSPs.
    — Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The accords failed to stop the war, creating a frozen conflict with an ever-rising human toll that ultimately gave way to a full-scale invasion.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • After a 7-6 debut season as the Volunteers head coach in 2009, Kiffin endeared himself to the Tennessee fan base by accusing former Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating during a recruiting battle.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Blatant, in-your-face lying, cheating and stealing is the norm.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • While most of the male cops were unhappy with the gender integration of the department, a lot of the women officers were displeased, too.
    — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The only cohort of players likely to be displeased with this year’s prize money increases are doubles specialists.
    — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of displease
Verb
  • Charpia’s Cedar Shoals Jaguars will try to upset crosstown rival Clarke Central, coached by Perno, in Athens on Friday.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Speaker Mike Johnson can lose two Republican votes before a third defection upsets the majority.
    — Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of upset

Browse Nearby Words

disappears
disappoint
disappointed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disappoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappoint. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of elegiac

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All