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
Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
Attitude of gratitude Though board members, teachers and residents alike expressed sincere dismay and horror at the level of cuts, many also shared feelings of gratitude toward Carpenter for spearheading a solution to a drastic financial crisis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Never having stayed at her house before, I was dismayed to find that the television in the main living area was on all the time.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Noun
Scott Tomar, a professor and associate dean at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, is among those who have watched with dismay as the conversation about fluoride has been affected by arguments likely to scare people.
—Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
Attitude of gratitude Though board members, teachers and residents alike expressed sincere dismay and horror at the level of cuts, many also shared feelings of gratitude toward Carpenter for spearheading a solution to a drastic financial crisis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Some veterans of the White House beat have been dismayed by some of the softball questions being posed to Trump during pool availability, as well as some of the conduct in the briefing.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Never having stayed at her house before, I was dismayed to find that the television in the main living area was on all the time.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
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That pool of those players (11 to 19) produced more busts or major disappointments than starters on winning teams.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
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Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara expressed his disappointment with EGLE's license renewal for Wayne Disposal, and the process.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Through war, famine, and economic despair, people have come together to survive and thrive.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Europe’s economy is showing signs of recovery, despite widespread despair over its prospects.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The travel watch still discourages unnecessary travel.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Jan. 2026
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The region is grappling with a winter storm that is paralyzing activity in the area with freezing precipitation on its roads, discouraging shoppers from heading out to stores.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But absent any concerning signs that the labor market is falling a cliff, the Fed will also likely turn to inflation data for the cue on when to lower rates again.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Well, within the past year, professionals who have sought to advance their careers through ongoing training and development are turning to a non-technical AI skill, one that fundamentally shapes the future of work even outside of IT, as far as AI is concerned.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Republican ends Minnesota governor bid over immigration enforcement Chris Madel, a Republican, ended his campaign for Minnesota governor after less than two months, citing frustration with the party and the way federal officials have carried out immigration operations in the state.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
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Now, nearly in February, frustration and isolation are growing for Rowland and fellow residents.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Paczocha and his wife were frustrated by growing unrest stemming from Black Lives Matter protests and six months of COVID-19 restrictions the family believed were overly strict.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Jan. 2026
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Naturally, many were frustrated with the long wait times, and particularly outraged at just how pricey the tickets were selling for this time around (upwards of $1,000 a ticket).—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The affected regions in southern Africa are no strangers to heavy downpours and flooding, but scientists were alarmed by the magnitude of the recent events.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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While this alarmed some users, this type of intrusive data harvesting is common on social media apps.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gabby is hiding a few secrets as well, that boil down to money troubles and a dissatisfaction with the way her supposedly glamorous life has turned out.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Problems that could be addressed, like my dissatisfaction with my office job, seemed insurmountable.—
Elizabeth Kelsey,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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