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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismaying
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
For the Congolese government, the ineffective Western responses follow a dismaying pattern.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
To the dismay of party insiders, Anderson slipped through the 1994 Republican primary to win the GOP nomination for state attorney general.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
With a six-game deficit in the American League wild card hunt entering play on Monday, the Angels may be only a few series away from repeating their dismaying playbook from 2023.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Noun
And developers who take on the spatial complexities of working with old architecture face a dismaying array of bureaucratic and financial challenges.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
For the Congolese government, the ineffective Western responses follow a dismaying pattern.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Moments after it was confirmed that Charlie Kirk died from a gunshot wound during a college event Wednesday in Utah, several Arkansas political leaders went to social media to express their dismay over the conservative activist's death.
—Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
To the dismay of party insiders, Anderson slipped through the 1994 Republican primary to win the GOP nomination for state attorney general.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Gilbert was dismayed to lose the chance to build a case over time.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
With a six-game deficit in the American League wild card hunt entering play on Monday, the Angels may be only a few series away from repeating their dismaying playbook from 2023.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismaying
Noun
-
Richter agreed, expressing disappointment about the ways in which clean energy has become politicized.—
Katherine Fung
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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There’s something beautiful about learning to get over that disappointment and all these expectations others have for us.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement The contrast was on display in the session’s opening moments, when Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly’s president, urged delegates not to give in to despair about the institution’s shortcomings.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
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But hope is essential to fighting off despair and maintaining the ability to act.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The french fries had a disconcerting astringency, like they’d been dusted in the same stuff that’s put on Hint of Lime Tostitos.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
-
But the evidence lately is disconcerting.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While the frustration with the start of his season was valid, Williams may have gotten back on course against the Cowboys.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Parsons’ frustration with the process throughout training camp likely factored into the final decision.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
At the end of the day, the result was a bit disheartening.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Seeing that textbook go to waste felt very disheartening.—
Sami Khan,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to Lucas Walsh, professor of youth politics at Monash University, economic insecurity is a central factor in growing dissatisfaction with democracy among the youngest voters.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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While dissatisfaction with the country is up, Trump’s approval rating stayed steady in September compared to August, Gallup found.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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My father was very discouraging about it, too.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, the Edinburgh publishers Oliver and Boyd brought out an anthology called The Door of Youth—A Selection of Poems from Edinburgh School Magazines, with a discouraging preface by John Buchan.—
Frances Wilson
September 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane forecasters are watching three major risk factors for people across a swath of the East Coast, a complex dance of weather that has led to a troubling forecast for late September.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, at that film’s Berlin Film Festival premiere, its star Nourou (Jean-Christophe Folly) is in freefall after a racially troubling run-in with a Polish hotel security heavy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismaying. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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