1
as in disappointment
the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met
filled with dismay at not making the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
One of her eyes closes slightly, turning her into a cartoon of shock and dismay.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2025
Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Microsoft had recently acquired Skype and already owned Xbox, and she was dismayed by how toxic the messaging systems were.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Noun
Zohran Mamdani has defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to be elected the next Mayor of New York City, something which has come at the dismay of MAGA and conservatives, who have quickly flocked online to share their reactions to Mamdani’s historic win.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
One of her eyes closes slightly, turning her into a cartoon of shock and dismay.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
The footage sparked outrage and dismay across Israel.
—Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Microsoft had recently acquired Skype and already owned Xbox, and she was dismayed by how toxic the messaging systems were.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
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Your confidence can be a bulwark against disappointment in others in February.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
On the disappointment of 2024 In April 2024, the Chiefs traded up one spot to select Suamataia out of BYU with the 63rd overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Monday’s loss to the Celtics highlighted the despair in the state of the current Bulls frontcourt.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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But Wharton, unlike the characters in her novels, never seemed to give in to despair.—
Lila Shapiro,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being one of the top defenses all season, the last month has been discouraging.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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This design helps prevent condensation buildup and discourages rodents and pests, while still reducing the risk of damage from falling debris during winter storms.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Orpin did not respond to follow-up questions concerning the fate of the cidery's canning and retail sales operations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
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Other concerning signs include constipation, feeling cold all the time, lightheadedness or fainting, and missing periods in girls.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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British officials downplayed the pause as temporary, insisting momentum would resume amid complex negotiations, but the impasse signals broader frustrations with Europe’s regulatory posture toward American innovation, market access, and economic sovereignty.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Games that are too easy bore older players, while overly complex games can frustrate younger ones.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Popular Science,
8 Jan. 2026
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But while Coogan racked up millions of views for his YouTube explainers about political figures like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, he was frustrated by the hours of prep work that went into producing a single episode.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The images alarmed many onlookers, watchdogs and people whose photos had been manipulated, and there was a sustained pushback on X leading up to the change.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
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That the administration appears unconcerned by this fact should alarm everyone else.—
Jon Duffy,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a 2024 public opinion poll, an overwhelming majority of Cubans expressed profound dissatisfaction with the Cuban Communist Party and the leadership of President Miguel Díaz-Canel.—
Joseph J. Gonzalez,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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