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

Relevance

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 On the whole, the World Cup has brought several successes to the city (and several significant disappointments, to be sure). — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 July 2026 The memory endures of seeing Lionel Messi trudging through a post-match mixed zone looking haunted after Argentina were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup and of Cristiano Ronaldo fighting back the tears after various disappointments with Portugal. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026 The athleticism, the finesse, the elation, the disappointment, the cheers. — Amrit Dhir, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026 As divorcés and single fathers, each of us has confronted loss and disappointment. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 11 July 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
  • That is why there has been such a deluge of anger and frustration from the public, even more than from the tournament exits under Southgate.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • In a Thursday episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, Shapiro hit Vance particularly over his comments on the latter topic and his views on Americans’ frustration with the country’s economic system over the past few decades.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • 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
  • The French surely will consider Saturday’s consolation match a massive letdown.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of letdown
Noun
  • Incredibly, neither finalist was able to beat the Blue Sharks in 90 minutes of soccer – the nation also held Spain to a 0-0 draw in its opening group-stage fixture, much to the dismay of the above Spanish editor.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Even Athena, if that genuinely is whom Zendaya is playing, isn’t that helpful, mostly staring at Odysseus in mute dismay.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • Whoever wins this match will receive $29 million in prize money, compared to $27 million awarded to the loser.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Whoever comes out on top in the backup quarterback battle will obviously be safe on the roster, but there are a couple of possibilities for the loser in that competition.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of loser
Noun
  • Researchers and psychologists agree that this feeling can fuel anxiety, dissatisfaction, and a constant need to stay connected, for fear of missing an opportunity, an event, or an experience.
    — Ana Morales, Vogue, 11 July 2026
  • Van Buren, a Democrat, perhaps sensing the electorate’s dissatisfaction with him amid difficult economic times, had a plan to paint Harrison’s Whig Party as politically corrupt.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
Definition of dissatisfaction
Noun
  • Given Zidane won the Champions League in three successive years as coach of Real Madrid, anything less than victory at the European Championship in 2028 will be considered a failure.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • At the time he was arrested, authorities had issued a separate warrant for Milton stemming from his failure to appear in court and alleged curfew violations in a retail theft case, court records show.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • The girls spend the day together — Laura has made an entire treasure hunt to celebrate Good Eagle’s birthday — and while there are moments of joy, there’s a lot of sadness weighing down on their tiny shoulders, too.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his sadness over the recent deaths in the country’s south.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Rumors of such a move surfaced a while back … but still a bummer.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 24 June 2026
  • Kara has a backstory, which turns out to be an overinflated CGI bummer.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of bummer

Browse Nearby Words

disappointing
disappointment
disappointments
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointment. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Nglish: Translation of disappointment for Spanish Speakers

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 raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All