dismay
to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion: She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
to alarm; perturb: The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.
sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment.
sudden disillusionment.
agitation of mind; perturbation; alarm.
Origin of dismay
1synonym study For dismay
Other words for dismay
Opposites for dismay
Other words from dismay
- dis·may·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dismay in a sentence
The hallway was dismayingly scrubbed; the kitchen was an exercise in mathematics, with problems worked out in equidistant chairs.
Main Street | Sinclair Lewis"I thought I'd be a dilettante mother, but I'm as dismayingly natural as Mrs. Bogart," she boasted.
Main Street | Sinclair Lewis"Den you's a thief," retorted Uncle Billy with dismayingly quick wit.
The Littlest Rebel | Edward PepleTheir attack was turned back with heavy losses on both sides and with a dismayingly large expenditure of precious ammunition.
Space Prison | Tom GodwinThe food at the Owl Grill proved excellent, but the prices were dismayingly high and the atmosphere of the place didnt please Ira.
Center Rush Rowland | Ralph Henry Barbour
British Dictionary definitions for dismay
/ (dɪsˈmeɪ) /
to fill with apprehension or alarm
to fill with depression or discouragement
consternation or agitation
Origin of dismay
1Derived forms of dismay
- dismaying, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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