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
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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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
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
Nevertheless, the billionaire class and their advocates in the media and on cable news expressed shock and dismay at the very idea.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
Many Democratic voters, including Jews, have grown dismayed by Israel’s conduct in the war and are deeply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Noun
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
Verb
But to her dismay, her name was only found on the snubs and surprises lists.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
Nevertheless, the billionaire class and their advocates in the media and on cable news expressed shock and dismay at the very idea.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Verb
The city’s business, good government and political leadership, especially those dismayed by the results of the mayoral primary, must unite in support of the inclusion of the nonpartisan elections proposal.
—Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
Many Democratic voters, including Jews, have grown dismayed by Israel’s conduct in the war and are deeply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismaying
Noun
-
François Bayrou, France’s prime minister, expressed his disappointment for the trade agreement.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
28 July 2025
-
The Brewers shipped him to the Chicago White Sox for big league flop Andrew Vaughn, the third-overall draft pick in 2019 who’d been an increasing disappointment through five seasons in Chicago.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Joe’s despair reminded me of a conversation my colleague Charlie Warzel had with the writer and technology theorist L. M. Sacasas in 2022.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 July 2025
-
Is the internet’s place in human history cemented as a harbinger of despair?—
Aarushi Bhandari,
The Conversation,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
That move has divided GOP lawmakers — including many who see Trump as simply airing his frustration with the Fed’s choice to leave interest rates unchanged amid shifting tariff policy.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
22 July 2025
-
Other operators have expressed similar frustration, and some members of Congress have signaled support for an overhaul.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
New polling from The Economist/YouGov shows a drop in the president's approval among those earning over $100,000—a shift that appears tied to economic unease and growing dissatisfaction with his policy agenda.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
-
Decanting can be a valuable tool when there’s a major change in the law or the beneficiary’s circumstances, or there’s dissatisfaction with the trustee.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
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
Adjective
-
The board of the Regional Transportation Authority met Friday to discuss ways to respond to the cut, striking a note of optimism to counter the disturbing prediction for Tri-Rail’s future.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
25 July 2025
-
This is a disturbing statistic and speaks to an increase in the total number of people defacing themselves, but also a rise in the amount of ink per person.—
Scott Liftman,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
It’s had a number of harrowing trailers and is now releasing full clips that the internet is finding deeply unsettling.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
Tell me what were some of the other possibilities that were floated to deal with this unsettling initial singularity?—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismaying. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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