1
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarming
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
as in disconcerting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 dismaying
F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
—Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024
What’s dismaying is this was yet another opportunity for the Bears to close out a game — in this instance, Williams could have ended things with a 99-yard touchdown drive — and be celebrating a massive performance by the rookie.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
The math suggests a dismaying possibility: these votes may very well swing.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Verb
Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
—Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024
What’s dismaying is this was yet another opportunity for the Bears to close out a game — in this instance, Williams could have ended things with a 99-yard touchdown drive — and be celebrating a massive performance by the rookie.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
The math suggests a dismaying possibility: these votes may very well swing.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismaying
Verb
-
Actions by officials in the two countries are also discouraging Canadian tourists from looking south.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Good air circulation will allow leaves and stems to dry out, discouraging disease.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Don’t come over here disturbing my peace if mahogany queens aren’t your preferred type.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Overweight and obesity need to be treated safely and effectively to avoid that worrying forecast.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2024
-
Bitcoin has dropping back from its all-time high of over $100,000 in the last week as BlackRock quietly confirmed a worrying bitcoin bombshell.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
While Mamdani may have intended to express respect to a religious community, his comments signal troubling deference to powerful interests that have long resisted even the most basic educational standards in Hasidic yeshivas.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
In a post shared on Facebook by Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard organization in Costa Rica, the group described attempts made to save the 54-year-old from the troubling waters.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Occupying and distracting the mind.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If getting this set up on your own sounds daunting, don’t be afraid to ask for help, McCoy says.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
-
While starting a business can seem like a daunting task, there is a process for doing so.—
Rhett Buttle,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
-
The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Saturated reds and yellows can be too energizing, adding an unsettling air to your dinner party and subconsciously encouraging guests to get up and leave.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
-
Popping up twice in an hour to the bathroom is bad enough, but it was made worse by the possibility that Thurber, ignorant of anything but the unsettling swish of the door, would address some remark to me in my absence.—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismaying. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share