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 That outcome left some disappointment around the organization, especially after another deadline in which Atlanta was linked to some of the biggest names on the market but ultimately chose not to pay the asking prices for elite pitching. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Lofty near-term profit expectations are a headwind for Walmart , and could lead to disappointment for investors, according to Oppenheimer. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026 Agriculture groups representing large players in the industry expressed optimism but also disappointment in the board’s decision to not send a letter asking for changes to SB 54’s implementation. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The announced closure of the Save-A-Lot store at 79th and Halsted is yet another disappointment for the residents of Auburn Gresham’s 17th Ward. — Chicago Tribune, 3 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
  • Survivors have expressed frustration and criticized the Japanese government's support for nuclear deterrence for being insincere.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on their investigation for weeks, deferring questions to the district attorney — who acknowledged the public’s frustration.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • This iconic juice has a huge pineapple aroma and flavor, but the container is a serious letdown.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
  • So why did both earlier this week seem – well, not a letdown, but not what we’re used to?
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 July 2026
Definition of letdown
Noun
  • Locals sought to protect the land, which had long housed a storied artist residency program, from development, but in the end the foundation sold it to the South Seas resort for $45 million, to the dismay of many.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • We’re filled with dismay at the hard left turn the Democratic Party has been taking in this primary season, and El-Sayed’s narrow win is still a win.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • The quarterfinal winners will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while the losers will face off in a final set of matches to determine which two teams advance to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff next year.
    — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That point was on Monday, with the former first lady, secretary of state, senator and 2016 presidential election loser showing up to watch the New York Liberty take on the Seattle Storm.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of loser
Noun
  • There also has been widespread dissatisfaction over how some insurers have handled January 2025 fire claims.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This insidious method is a form of bullying, causing significant psychological harm and higher dissatisfaction than overt harassment.
    — Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissatisfaction
Noun
  • The failures of England’s previous generations were multi-faceted, but how much did the national culture feed into the acceptance of their behaviour?
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These can overwhelm and damage your kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • Her sadness and traumatic experiences, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller in 2018, have become intertwined with her career.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026
  • Compared to individual contributors, leaders were substantially more likely–by seven percentage points–to report experiencing a lot of stress, anger (+12 points), sadness (+11 points) and loneliness (+10 points) the previous day.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • The only bummer is the Pocketbyte is still very much in the works.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
  • If a team wins, their GM must be smarter than everyone else because the idea that everyone is basically rolling the same dice and flipping the same coins and some guys are just getting luckier on the results is kind of a bummer.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of bummer

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disappointing
disappointment
disappointments
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Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointment. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Nglish: Translation of disappointment for Spanish Speakers

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