dismay

14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for dismay, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A strong feeling of sudden worry, disappointment, or discouragement.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

alarm

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

depress appal deject appall horrify get down dispirit cast down demoralize demoralise consternation discouragement disheartenment

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A strong feeling of sudden worry, disappointment, or discouragement.

“To her dismay, the flight had already been cancelled.”

alarm depress appal deject appall horrify get down dispirit cast down demoralize demoralise consternation discouragement disheartenment

2. verb

To fill someone with worry, disappointment, or a sudden loss of confidence.

“The news of the layoffs dismayed the entire office.”

demoralize appal appall horrify demoralise depress dispirit deject alarm

Opposites

encourage assure

How to use dismay

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

to her dismay much to my dismay a look of dismay

Etymology

From Old French esmaier, "to frighten," probably from a Vulgar Latin word meaning "to deprive of strength" — ultimately related to the same root as "may" and "main" (as in "with might and main").

Full origin of dismay →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dismay” mean?

The word “dismay” means a strong feeling of sudden worry, disappointment, or discouragement. In plain terms, sudden shock combined with disappointment or worry.

How do you pronounce “dismay”?

“Dismay” is pronounced dihs-MAY (/dɪsˈmeɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “dismay” in a sentence?

Here is “dismay” used in a sentence: “To her dismay, the flight had already been cancelled.”

What part of speech is “dismay”?

Depending on how it is used, “dismay” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “dismay” come from?

The word “dismay” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French esmaier, "to frighten," probably from a Vulgar Latin word meaning "to deprive of strength" — ultimately related to the same root as "may" and "main" (as in "with might and main").

Is “dismay” a common word?

“Dismay” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “dismay” have?

“Dismay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong feeling of sudden worry, disappointment, or discouragement.

People also searched

encourage alarm assure demoralize demoralise horrify deject appall consternation depress dispirit discouragement

Nearby words

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