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dismay

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dismay contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismay are appall, daunt, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

When would appall be a good substitute for dismay?

While the synonyms appall and dismay are close in meaning, appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

In what contexts can daunt take the place of dismay?

In some situations, the words daunt and dismay are roughly equivalent. However, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Where would horrify be a reasonable alternative to dismay?

The words horrify and dismay can be used in similar contexts, but horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

Examples 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 dismay
Noun
Much to their fans’ dismay, the shop shut its doors in 2020, leaving this region without their go-to source for a slice. Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024 Shell, like rival energy company BP, has backtracked on some climate targets in recent months to the dismay of environmental campaigners, putting more emphasis on oil and gas to boost its profits. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune Europe, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
At the same time, he was dismayed by the gloomy tone of the conversation his work had helped inspire. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 Indeed, Strong is dismayed by the direction of Hollywood studios. Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dismay 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
  • Pro-democracy advocates all over the world watched with disappointment and alarm as Trump took the former course, plumbing the depths of bigotry and fear, and vowing to take vengeance.
    Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
  • In this newsletter…Intel’s Gaudi disappointment…Prime Video gets AI…OpenAI and Anthropic hiring news…Sleep pays…and nuclear setbacks.
    David Meyer, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The song puts me in a state of deep despair — these haunting strings and ghostly pianos and synthesizers.
    Nate Sloan, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
  • When the Great Depression hit in the early 1930s, Hitler and his followers were ready to take advantage of the German people’s despair and to focus their attention on a scapegoat—the political left and the Jews—as support for centrist political parties eroded.
    Christine Adams / Made by History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Bystanders are discouraged or prevented from recording, restricting the how many of these interactions appear on social media.
    Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • To avoid discouraging students, some school districts did away with D and F grades.
    Karin Klein, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • This is especially concerning for the x86 crowd because both systems aren’t far off in price from the MacBook Pro tested here, especially the HP ZBook workstation.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Two potential constitutional amendments are also on the ballot, concerning noncitizen voting and public and private school funding.
    Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But with crucial deadlines and the land deal itself hanging in the balance, the county’s apparent lack of movement was a source of frustration at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.
    Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Voter frustrations with the economy and immigration are fueling Trump’s slight advantage among Arizona voters.
    Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • But one of the smart pleasures of Walden is to watch its author gently frustrate the dramatic assumptions that filter in from A Streetcar Named Desire.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Several counties statewide face a lengthy, two-page ballot that is likely to frustrate voters and lead to lines at the polls.
    The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • That’s alarmed some industries over others—such as Germany’s carmakers, who stand to pay steep tariffs.
    BYPrarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 30 Oct. 2024
  • Eventually, Rabie managed to accelerate slightly, distancing the vehicle from the lioness without alarming her.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • In 2016, a record-low voter turnout of 55% — an unusual milestone for an island known for high voter turnouts of 73% to 89% — as well as low numbers in the 2020 election signaled growing voter dissatisfaction with the two main parties amid the island’s financial crisis and recent natural disasters.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • However, one key factor may have been voters’ widespread dissatisfaction with the economy.
    Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near dismay

Cite this Entry

“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dismay

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