disappointment

[dis-uh-point-muhnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR disappointment ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or fact of disappointing: All of his efforts only led to the disappointment of his supporters.

the state or feeling of being disappointed: Her disappointment was very great when she didn't get the job.

a person or thing that disappoints: The play was a disappointment.

Origin of disappointment

First recorded in 1605–15; disappoint + -ment

Related formspre·dis·ap·point·ment, noun

Synonyms for disappointment

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR disappointment ON THESAURUS.COM

1. failure, defeat, frustration.

Disappointment

[dis-uh-point-muh nt]

noun

Cape, a cape in SW Washington state, projecting into the Pacific Ocean on the N of the mouth of the Columbia River.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for disappointment

blow, disaster, setback, failure, obstacle, defeat, mistake, discontent, regret, chagrin, dissatisfaction, letdown, frustration, adversity, disenchantment, disillusionment, drag, misfortune, lemon, bummer

Examples from the Web for disappointment

Contemporary Examples of disappointment

Putin may very well be the last optimist left in the country, which is facing a time of confusion and disappointment.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug
Anna Nemtsova
December 18, 2014
He tended to shield himself from disappointment by expecting the worst—of people and of his country.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America
David Yaffe, Scott Saul
December 10, 2014
Of course I was frustrated, but writers deal with disappointment all the time, and so do archaeologists.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark
Alex Belth
November 14, 2014
So why does Season 2—which just had its fall finale Monday night—feel like such a disappointment so far?
The Blacklist’s Frustrating Fall: Keen’s a Keeper, but Red Regresses
Jason Lynch
November 11, 2014
When Bello posted the letter on his website, many took to Twitter to express similar feelings of disappointment.
Ebola Racism Reaches a New Low in Texas
Abby Haglage
October 15, 2014

Historical Examples of disappointment

"He must have stolen it," muttered Halbert, looking after Robert with disappointment and chagrin.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
I accosted him, when, to my chagrin and disappointment, he was a white man.
Biography of a Slave
Charles Thompson
She would say nothing now—would let him see no sign of disappointment in her!
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Strange to see him struggle with his disappointment like a grieving child!
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
He was still a young man, but he was worn out with disappointment.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II
Charlotte Mary Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for disappointment

disappointment

noun

the act of disappointing or the state of being disappointed

a person, thing, or state of affairs that disappoints

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disappointment

1610s, "fact of disappointing;" see disappoint + -ment. Meaning "state or feeling of being disappointed" is from 1756. Meaning "a thing that disappoints" is from 1756.