dismay
/dis'mei/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A sudden loss of courage or confidence due to an unexpected and alarming event: "Dismay" refers to the feeling of shock, anxiety, and discouragement when faced with something upsetting or disheartening.
- Consternation or distress: It can also describe a state of alarm and disappointment.
Verb:
- To cause someone to feel consternation and distress: To fill someone with sudden disappointment, worry, or alarm.
- To daunt or dispirit: To lower someone's spirits or courage.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- To her dismay, the project was canceled. (She felt shocked and disappointed that the project was canceled.)
- He looked at the ruined painting with dismay. (He looked at the painting with a feeling of distress and alarm.)
Verb:
- The sudden change in rules dismayed the team. (The unexpected change in rules filled the team with distress and discouragement.)
- News of the accident dismayed the entire community. (The news caused the community to feel shocked and distressed.)
Advanced Usage
"Much to someone's dismay": Used to introduce a cause of great disappointment or distress for someone.
- Much to the teacher's dismay, half the class failed the exam. (The teacher was very disappointed and distressed that half the class failed.)
"In dismay": Describing the state of being dismayed.
- She cried out in dismay when she saw the results. (She shouted, showing her shock and distress upon seeing the results.)
Variants and Related Words
Dismayed (adjective): Filled with consternation and distress.
- The dismayed crowd slowly dispersed. (The distressed crowd slowly left.)
Dismaying (adjective): Causing dismay.
- The dismaying news spread quickly. (The alarming and distressing news spread quickly.)
Synonyms
- Noun: Consternation, distress, alarm, discouragement.
- Verb: Appall, horrify, daunt, dishearten.
Antonyms
- Noun: Delight, encouragement, confidence.
- Verb: Encourage, hearten, reassure.
Related Phrases
"Throw into dismay": To cause someone to become dismayed.
- The announcement threw the staff into dismay. (The announcement caused the staff to become very distressed.)
"With a sense of dismay": Feeling or showing dismay.
- He accepted the news with a sense of dismay. (He accepted the news while feeling distressed.)
Noun
- fear resulting from the awareness of danger
- the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
Verb
- fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
- I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview
- The news of the executions horrified us
- lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
- These news depressed her
- The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her