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
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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
Monitor Staff, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismays
Verb
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The Dare Market app allows people to challenge one another to complete dares for prizes or money, but discourages users from breaking any laws, Perfito said.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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That ruling comes after a federal appeals court sided with Kalshi over New Jersey last month, boosting the fledgling industry’s hopes that the Supreme Court takes up the issue — and discourages Congress from passing any bill that might protect states’ lane.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the cityscape frustrates urban photographers with uneven terrain or limited spaces, photographic gear company Silence Corner strikes back with the Viperpod – a hybrid tripod designed to hang anywhere in seconds for unencumbered solo shooting.—
Shirl Leigh
May 06,
New Atlas,
6 May 2026
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What frustrates me is that the Board has invoked emergency powers for rent policy while failing to declare an actual public health emergency for unsheltered homelessness — the one domain where the legal, moral, and practical case is overwhelming.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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This is hurtful and bothers me a lot.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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My fiance struggles with communication and tends to pretend nothing bothers him.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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We are told that raising these questions distracts from the issues that matter, such as rising costs, persistent crime and the condition of our city.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
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Or maybe a still-working phonograph of Edison’s invention distracts you, until a wall of portraits of 1920s electrical manufacturing workers pulls your gaze in a new direction.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The excess is real; the debate concerns its origin.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
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What concerns leaders of local governments are projections that show a troubling trend downward.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Reincke worries the hype about AI replacing radiologists entirely may discourage medical students.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
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Bouzine says roughly 80% of his customers typically arrive on Spirit flights and worries the shutdown will have widespread effects.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Whether that future excites or alarms fans, the law—not nostalgia or tradition—will determine who suits up in March.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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The development of Moltbook, with AI bots forming their own social media, alarms him.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dismays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismays. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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