Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. fear resulting from the awareness of danger
2. the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

Verb

1. 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
2. lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
   • These news depressed her
   • The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her