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dismays

verb

present tense third-person singular of dismay
1
as in discourages
to lessen the courage or confidence of the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disturbs
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

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 dismays This exploration of the American grasslands – from soil, water, and insects to farmers, plows, and buffalo – dismays, yes, but also invigorates. — Monitor Staff, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismays
  1. discourages
  2. disturbs
  3. frustrates
  4. bothers
  5. distracts
  6. concerns
  7. worries
  8. alarms
Verb
  • At its core, Vargas said, the gym is meant to be a place where men can step away from life’s stressors and support one another — in a world that often discourages men from opening up.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Create an environment that’s less welcoming with a weekly routine that discourages spiders from rebuilding their webs.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of discourages
Verb
  • Some of the sightings claim a man wearing clothing typical of the 17th or 18th centuries, a man dressed in Confederate attire in the liquor room, a ghost of a former worker Joseph Hardesty and a female who actively disturbs visitors to her home.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • That disturbs Masters, an auto mechanic who moved out of the mobile home park before the 2021 floods.
    — Ren Larson, ProPublica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbs
Verb
  • Maybe that is why this political language frustrates me so much.
    — Angelette C. Aviles, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2026
  • One thing that Davidson said frustrates him about social media is people who aren’t personally connected to the tragedy often use it as a meme.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of frustrates
Verb
  • Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about DoppelCart is how convincing these fake stores can look.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • What bothers Fairchild is the assumption behind it — that the dancers are voiceless and helpless.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of bothers
Verb
  • Often, undercapitalization is a major challenge for new franchisees and distracts from operations.
    — Angelo Chavez, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Scientists now are spending an increasing amount of time worrying about keeping the lights on and people employed, which ultimately distracts from time spent doing research.
    — Abdullah Shihipar, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of distracts
Verb
  • There is precedent for this, though precedent might not be the right word given it concerns future events.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Meta glasses become hearing aids The more unexpected announcement concerns Meta’s non-VR glasses.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of concerns
Verb
  • What worries her is that such existential fears could distract from present harms the technology is already causing, such as AI deepfakes, mental health challenges and the potential for job loss.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Eviction laws vary by state, but Batko worries that defaulting on even a single rent payment in some states can mean losing one's housing.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of worries
Verb
  • That prospect alarms those in Europe, who fear FIFA could increasingly challenge their competitions for space on an already overcrowded calendar.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Definition of alarms

Browse Nearby Words

dismaying
dismays
dismember
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Cite this Entry

“Dismays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismays. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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