dismay 1 of 2

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
Today's top stories Iran's capital has been in dismay after the sudden collapse of the Syrian regime. Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024 Reading these stories was never about inviting pain, frustration, or dismay for the sake of it. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
She was dismayed by the direction her party had taken. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Oct. 2024 Higher education lobbyists are dismayed at the likely new chair of the Senate commerce and science committee: Senator Ted Cruz (R–TX). Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dismay 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismay
Noun
  • Söderblom’s bounce-back game ended in disappointment.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • And yet Burns often got the hardest assignments, the ones with big potential rewards but that were more likely to end in disappointment, or at least ambiguity.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Antonio scored an early opener and Jarrod Bowen was denied from close range shortly after, with Moyes falling to the ground in despair.
    Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Carter later credited that sacrifice for pulling him from his despair and eventually leading him to found The Carter Presidential Center -- a multifaceted nonprofit aimed at promoting human rights, with missions as varied as election monitoring and eradicating parasitic diseases.
    Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Obama and his inner circle discouraged Biden from running for president in 2016, opting to prop up then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton instead.
    Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Jan. 2025
  • And some longtime women's hoops stars have denounced certain supporters of Clark and discouraged them from following the sport.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Baun’s absorption of play-relaying duties will allow Burks or Trotter to be mainly concerned with their own assignments.
    Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Gen Xers — who at ages 44 to 59 are getting closer to retirement — are most likely to be concerned about the program's future, Bankrate found.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Moments of joy and vulnerability are interwoven with frustration, sadness, and fear.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
  • This shift has led to frustration and disappointment among job seekers who invest time and effort in the interview process.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In southeastern Utah, the whipsaw of American politics is playing out on the ground, frustrating everyone, and with no end in sight.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Many of those listening were members of the African National Congress, the long-governing party that had just suffered stinging losses at the polls, a rebuke from voters frustrated by corruption and mismanagement after three decades of the A.N.C. being in charge.
    Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • California officials apologized after millions of residents in Los Angeles County were alarmed by a false alert to evacuate as wildfires rage.
    Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The two had never once met, and Pope was alarmed, but tried to stay calm.
    Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Understanding The Pessimistic Demographic A significant segment of Americans—often older, predominantly white and earning less than $50,000 annually—expresses profound dissatisfaction with the state of the world.
    Rebecca Brooks, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Already-high public dissatisfaction has gotten even higher in the aftermath of events in Syria.
    Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near dismay

Cite this Entry

“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismay. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dismay

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