DISMAY Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'dismay' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismay are appall , daunt , and horrify . While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something. // dismayed at the size of the job

Q: When would 'appall' be a good substitute for 'dismay'?

While the synonyms appall and dismay are close in meaning, appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks. // I am appalled by your behavior

Q: In what contexts can 'daunt' take the place of 'dismay'?

In some situations, the words daunt and dismay are roughly equivalent. However, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage. // a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Q: Where would 'horrify' be a reasonable alternative to 'dismay'?

The words horrify and dismay can be used in similar contexts, but horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion. // was horrified by such wanton cruelty

dismay 1 of 2

noun

Definition of dismay

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

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

dismay

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈmā

as in to discourage

to lessen the courage or confidence of the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to concern

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy parents who became increasingly dismayed by their son's foundering marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dismay contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismay are appall, daunt, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

When would appall be a good substitute for dismay?

While the synonyms appall and dismay are close in meaning, appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

In what contexts can daunt take the place of dismay?

In some situations, the words daunt and dismay are roughly equivalent. However, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Where would horrify be a reasonable alternative to dismay?

The words horrify and dismay can be used in similar contexts, but horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

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 dismay

Noun

To his dismay, many of the exultant people in cowboy hats, burnt orange T-shirts and other spirit gear appeared to be of South Asian heritage. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

Bloomingdale’s fashion director David Thielebeule was encouraged by greater age diversity on the runway this season, but dismayed by the narrow range of body shapes. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Hal and Kate, having misread Trowbridge’s shock and dismay at the tragic death of Austin Dennison as a worse-than-usual bit of arrogant posturing, switch to Bad Cop mode. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay

Noun

One small disappointment was the lack of access to the loft in my deluxe studio, tucked so high under the shed roof that it was deemed unsafe to allow guests access by ladder.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Arab voters celebrated the exit polls while supporters of far-right parties aligned with Netanyahu expressed disappointment.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of disappointment

Verb

The memory shortage also threatens to discourage PC builders from creating new desktops.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Doorbell cameras can help identify suspects and discourage theft, while park parking lots generally lack that level of surveillance, police said.

— Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

Huang’s ideas concerned two formulas that appeared in Ramanujan’s letters and are now known as the Rogers-Ramanujan identities.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026
OpenAI therefore leaves individual training rewards unchanged when monitors flag concerning samples.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

Burks said much of the frustration is connected to top leaders who provide insufficient training.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Clinton's lack of a majority and list of frustrations in his first term set the stage for a bruising first midterm election in 1994.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustration

Verb

Finally, while frustrated by his years of struggle and especially the hurtful impact that this impasse has had on the lives of millions of Dreamers, Durbin projects confidence that this cause will prevail.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
What frustrates him most is the reflexive apology that typically accompanies the accessibility gap instead, often getting in the way of real problem-solving.

— Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Verb

That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
The new company has nearly $80 billion in debt, with leverage of six-and-a-half times trailing earnings, a ratio that has alarmed investors and triggered credit rating downgrades.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarm

Noun

The nationwide marches were meant to reflect broader dissatisfaction with the French government, with protesters taking to the streets to air a range of different grievances.

— James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Internal dissatisfaction with him forced him out late in 1998.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissatisfaction

Browse Nearby Words

dismantling

dismay

dismayed

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“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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