dismayed

[ dis-meyd ]

adjective

1. thoroughly disheartened, as by sudden danger or trouble:

   When he was sick and in prison, and the non-cooperation movement ebbed, Gandhi was not dismayed or discouraged.

2. surprised and disillusioned or disappointed:

   Many were dismayed at the way the ad trivialized the Tibetan people's struggle for freedom and survival.

3. alarmed or perturbed:

   As a teacher in a K-8 school, I am extremely dismayed at the talk of more unstable funding for education.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of dismay ( def ).

Other Words From

• dis·mayed·ness [dis-, meyd, -nis, -, mey, -id-], noun
• un·dis·mayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismayed¹

dismay ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Ruling out such an approach, you are left with more subtle ways to modify your friend’s behavior — the most obvious being consistently discovering, to your dismay, that you are not available on Friday.

From Washington Post

However, we recognize with dismay and sorrow that some lawyers challenged the outcome of the election with claims that they did not support with facts or evidence.

From Washington Post

As the violence in the Capitol played out, Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, tweeted his dismay at what he was seeing.

From Vox

The gambling industry’s main lobbying group also expressed surprise and dismay at his position.

From Washington Post

We note with dismay the serious threats and destruction of property faced by media professionals yesterday.

From Washington Blade

Buddhist purists are dismayed by one-percenters using mindfulness to get even richer.

From The Daily Beast

I am often dismayed at the many ways in which we medicalize a natural phenomenon that affects us all—aging.

From The Daily Beast

Many of your fellow citizens are dismayed by your conduct, and our anger has nothing to do with the color of your skin.

From The Daily Beast

Olivia is dismayed at everything that's happening and decides to get on a plane and run away with Jake.

From The Daily Beast

So I was dismayed to find that the makers of 300: Rise of an Empire had completely ignored them.

From The Daily Beast

Frulein Fichtner herself looked no ways dismayed at the number of her guests, though we had the air of coming to storm the house.

From Project Gutenberg

For a moment the group in the kitchen at Skyrie were dismayed by Jim Barlow's sudden departure and the escape of the dogs.

From Project Gutenberg

A sword upon her diviners, and they shall be foolish: a sword upon her valiant ones, and they shall be dismayed.

From Project Gutenberg

Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house.

From Project Gutenberg

Harry was dismayed at his sister's condition, but the injustice of the wholesale reproach chased away contrition.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• afraid
• agitated
• anguished
• anxious
• apprehensive
• edgy
• fearful
• impatient
• insecure
• irritable
• jittery
• nervous
• precarious
• restless
• shaky
• strained
• suspicious
• tense
• troubled
• uncomfortable