Definition

Verb: - To fill with sudden and overwhelming anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion; to cause someone to feel alarmed, shocked, or utterly bewildered.

Usage

The verb "consternate" is a formal and somewhat literary word. It is almost always used in the passive voice (e.g., "to be consternated by/at something") to describe the state of a person who has been shocked or filled with dread. It describes a strong emotional reaction to surprising, alarming, or confusing news or events.

Examples

• The sudden and unexpected resignation of the CEO consternated the entire board of directors.
• She was consternated by the news of the impending budget cuts.
• The audience sat consternated as the speaker revealed the grim statistics.

Advanced Usage

• To be consternated at/by/over something: This is the standard construction, indicating the cause of the dismay.
  • Investors were consternated at the company's sudden drop in stock value.
  • He was consternated by the complexity of the legal documents.

Variants and Related Words

• Consternation (noun): A feeling of anxiety, dismay, dread, or confusion.
  • The announcement caused widespread consternation among the staff.

Synonyms

• Appall: To greatly dismay or horrify.
• Dismay: To cause someone to feel consternation and distress.
• Horrify: To fill with horror; shock greatly.
• Stun: To shock or astonish.

Antonyms

• Comfort: To soothe in time of grief or fear.
• Reassure: To say or do something to remove someone's doubts or fears.
• Soothe: To gently calm a person or their feelings.

Verb

1. fill with anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion
   • After the terrorist attack, people look consternated