dismay

[dis-mey]

verb (used with object)

1. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt.

   The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.

   Synonyms: intimidate, scare, frighten, terrify, appall
   Antonyms: hearten

2. to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion.

   She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.

3. to alarm; perturb.

   The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.

noun

1. sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment.

   Synonyms: fear, horror, panic, terror, consternation, disconcert
   Antonyms: confidence

2. sudden disillusionment.

3. agitation of mind; perturbation; alarm.

dismay

/ dɪsˈmeɪ /

verb

1. to fill with apprehension or alarm

2. to fill with depression or discouragement

noun

1. consternation or agitation

Other Word Forms

• dismayingly adverb
• dismaying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismay¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English desmay (noun), de(s)mayen, dismayen (verb), from presumed Anglo-French alteration, by prefix change, of Old French esmaier “to trouble, frighten,” from unattested Vulgar Latin exmagāre “to disable, deprive of strength,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + unattested magāre, from unattested Germanic magan “to be able to”; may ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismay¹

C13: from Old French desmaiier (unattested), from des- _dis- ¹ + esmayer to frighten, ultimately of Germanic origin; see _may ¹

Synonym Study

See discourage.

Example Sentences

Animal welfare advocates like Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy, are dismayed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At a meeting place for opposition supporters on Zanzibar, there was dismay and fear.

Read more on Barron's

As we filed out and I expressed my dismay aloud, a man behind me replied: “Listen, kid, I paid $100 for a seat and went to the men’s room.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The network, a majority from Altadena, has seen the adrenaline that pushed people at the beginning of the year wear off as a sense of dismay set in.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another feature in the opening months of this term was Rodgers' apparent dismay over transfer business, with several references to underwhelming recruitment over the summer.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• agitate 
• alarm 
• bewilder 
• bother 
• confound 
• daunt 
• disconcert 
• discourage 
• dishearten 
• disillusion 
• dispirit 
• disquiet 
• disturb 
• dumbfound 
• embarrass 
• faze 
• flummox 
• fluster 
• frighten 
• horrify