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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in disconcerting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
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
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
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
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for dismay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
-
Gorst smiled shaking Yapp’s hand after the match, but the disappointment on his face was clear while Yapp leapt atop the table to celebrate his major championship.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
And many expressed disappointment upon realizing the set was sold out this week.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Every adrenaline rush comes with a chaser of low rage and simmering despair.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
-
His face could collapse in shame, his jaw sliding sideways; neither Goya nor Ensor painted despair more vividly.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps as disconcerting as anything is the lack of circumstances that would create such confusion.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The disconcerting scene offers a glimpse of what actually happened to Will while he was trapped for most of Season 1 and suggests that Will may still be impacted by whatever Vecna put inside him at the beginning of the story.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
One person familiar with Tuesday’s heated discussion within the caucus says there appears to be at least eight Democratic votes to reopen the government — even though progressive Democratic senators vented their frustration with the potential deal.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
For those dealing with the disheartening struggles of infertility, this is good news.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the day, the result was a bit disheartening.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tuesday's losses by the GOP could be viewed as a barometer for voter attitudes ahead of the 2026 midterms, reflecting broader dissatisfaction among core Republican constituencies and raising questions about the party's direction and messaging.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Jarcovjáková makes for a fascinating subject, especially as someone capturing her own emotional dissatisfaction through the contours of her body and face.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If the gap between self and fitfluencer seems too wide, comparisons become discouraging, not motivating.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Nothing creates a discouraging organizational structure more than uncertainty.—
Josh Browning,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These are troubling developments, but CELAC and EU nations are committed and have the capacity to put things right.—
Gustavo Petro,
Time,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Majumdar lavishes her characters with careful attention, and so the reader comes to regard their most troubling actions as justified, if not inevitable.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
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