1
as in disappointment
the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met
filled with dismay at not making the finals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
in my dismay I failed to realize that there would be other chances
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to concern
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
parents who became increasingly dismayed by their son's foundering marriage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismay
Philip Elliott, Time, 17 June 2025
Stevens had articulated his dismay in a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, speech.
—Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
The brawls were yet another chapter of dismaying fan behavior during San Diego’s inaugural season, which has been a big success on the field.
—Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Noun
To the dismay of critics of Israeli’s governments over the years, that has sometimes been mistaken for a blank check.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 17 June 2025
Stevens had articulated his dismay in a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, speech.
—Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
Verb
They were also dismayed by a joint budget agreement unveiled by lawmakers earlier this week, which includes similar — though lighter — Medi-Cal cost-cutting measures: $30 premiums and an enrollment freeze beginning in July 2027.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
The brawls were yet another chapter of dismaying fan behavior during San Diego’s inaugural season, which has been a big success on the field.
—Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
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Clark tried to erase the memories of his disappointment at Oakmont with an opening round 6-under 64 on Thursday, putting him tied for second in the early afternoon.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
19 June 2025
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He was drafted #9 and hasn't been a disappointment, so.... K Kip L. · 1h 4m ago Have fun replacing a 60 point center for 5 million.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
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So many of the adults who held our communities together have been lost to mass incarceration, to addictions—diseases of despair—as drugs have replaced jobs and hope in our neighborhoods, often turning them into war zones.—
Asha Bandele,
Essence,
25 June 2025
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The best dystopian films are the most plausible ones, and Children Of Men feels all too real, from the political factions to the way humanity both descends into despair and miraculously comes together to help those who need it most.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Verb
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While global finance institutions and investors have long been interested in diversifying to China, Beijing’s strict controls on capital outflows and relatively opaque system have discouraged large-scale buying of mainland China assets.—
Lee Ying Shan,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
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Meanwhile, rent control and other well-meaning interventions often backfire by discouraging investment and reducing housing availability in the long run.—
Alexander Frei,
Boston Herald,
23 June 2025
Verb
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As far as improving from the status quo is concerned, this is the best provision in the bill.—
The Editors,
National Review,
20 June 2025
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But there is often a tradeoff between civil liberties and crime prevention and, where minors are concerned, protection must come first.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The briefings were initially planned for earlier in the week but were postponed, to the frustration of the delegation.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2025
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And after Thursday's loss to the Astros, Kepler vented some frustrations about that managerial decision.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Retailers have sought to prevent theft without compromising the customer experience as traditional approaches such as locking up products can frustrate shoppers and have been found to lower sales.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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A number of Republicans are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of tariff deals from President Trump two weeks away from a July 8 deadline that could lead to the reinstating of heavy tariffs on imports from around the world.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
22 June 2025
Verb
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The man, wearing a black polo and slacks, looked up from a table saw, alarmed.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
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The potential downside of glucose monitoring is that people who are (perhaps needlessly) alarmed by their CGM data will swap out healthy carbs such as fruit and whole grains for foods that are less healthy—butter, for example, or bacon and red meat.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2025
Noun
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These discussions may seem minor, but mismatches in energy and intent can lead to dissatisfaction.—
Kaitlyn McInnis,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Leaders including Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, and James Clyburn were said to privately express dissatisfaction with how Schumer handled the negotiations.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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