disappointment

noun

ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint-mənt How to pronounce disappointment (audio)
Definition of disappointmentnext
1
as in frustration
the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met we felt keen disappointment when our offer on the house was rejected

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in letdown
something that disappoints after all the publicity and high expectations, the sequel to the movie blockbuster was a huge disappointment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 disappointment Knowing that dinner at Fallow was on the schedule, her disappointment was fleeting. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 Subaru Socialism grew, in part, out of the 2008 crash, the subsequent disappointment in Obama, and a rejection of Clinton and her entitled, uninviting run at the Presidency. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026 Peterson dropped it and immediately dropped his head in disappointment. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2026 To make matters more challenging, Apple shares have gotten so expensive that the company may not have room for a disappointment. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disappointment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disappointment
  1. frustration
  2. letdown
  3. dismay
  4. loser
  5. dissatisfaction
  6. failure
  7. sadness
  8. bummer
Noun
  • Whenever Biya eventually leaves office, his successor will inherit a country also facing attacks by Boko Haram militants in the north and deep economic frustration among young people.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than treating Debra’s frustrations as something distant from her own life, Heaton drew from the reality of raising her own kids while working on the series.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • The scores sealed the game in a matchup that looked over before the letdown.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, Hershey prevailed in a lawsuit that claimed Reese's featureless Halloween pumpkins were a consumer letdown.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of letdown
Noun
  • Despite four of the six miles being built underground, the construction in Norco would be entirely overhead, much to residents' dismay.
    — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Giulio, a dissatisfied 16-year-old, drifts through life with no enthusiasm for his education or his future, much to his family’s dismay (particularly his endlessly frustrated mother, brilliantly played by Monica Bellucci).
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • The winners and the losers Like any economic policy, tariffs won’t benefit all parties.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Payouts for the runner-up and semifinal losers have also declined relative to the overall purse in the past decade.
    — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of loser
Noun
  • Related Stories In their motion to strike the complaint, Netflix’s lawyers argued that Banks’ dissatisfaction with the series does not amount to defamation.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The motion argues that Banks' claims ultimately amount to dissatisfaction with the amount of her interview that was included and how it was edited.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissatisfaction
Noun
  • There was widespread concern in San Antonio last fall that a failure to approve a new arena could open the door for the Spurs to relocate to Austin.
    — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Reports vary on the exact level of success or failure of Meghan's brand As Ever, but the jam, flower sprinkles and scented candles have become a bit of a joke.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • At the same time, 40% reported experiencing stress, 23% reported sadness, 22% anger and 22% loneliness.
    — Naira Velumyan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Still, there are strains of deeper sadness and discomfort here, largely in the passive-aggressive tension between Kim’s character and her onscreen mother (superbly played by a new recuit, veteran TV star Choi Myeonggil).
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • That was one of my biggest takeaways — and bummers — from my conversation with Chris Barker, an epidemiology professor at UC Davis who has studied mosquitoes for almost 30 years, including at his lab.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, here on the show, Freddie Fox’s Gwayne Hightower stops him from making said move, which is a bit of a bummer.
    — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bummer

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disappointing
disappointment
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Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointment. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Nglish: Translation of disappointment for Spanish Speakers

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