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
  • Big brands, which are highly sensitive to public pressure, have become an easy target for frustration.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Early today, the Pisces Moon may stir private doubts or behind-the-scenes frustration as Venus highlights work and wellness .
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 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
  • Lionfish supplanted indigenous stocks like the red mullet to the dismay of fishers, who have seen local varieties popular with customers greatly diminish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Later, their tentative friendship turns into something more passionate — to the dismay of eavesdropping Asla, who realizes she is not the party Helge’s charm was aimed at.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 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
  • Studying clips of his first season as a BBC pundit, Wayne Rooney could not shake a feeling of dissatisfaction.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In one study of nurses at hospitals across Queensland, Australia, those who worked at hospitals that followed a minimum nurse staffing policy had 24% lower odds of high burnout and 27% lower odds of job dissatisfaction.
    — Alana Semuels, Time, 30 July 2026
Definition of dissatisfaction
Noun
  • The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that there would be an emergency road closure at the inbound Lawrence Avenue exit on the Kennedy (Interstate 90), citing the early morning concrete retention wall failure as the reason.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • These failures stemmed not from new vulnerabilities, but from basic security flaws like weak passwords and unauthenticated endpoints, and reliance on assumptions over robust controls.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 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
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Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointment. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Nglish: Translation of disappointment for Spanish Speakers

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