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

• dismaying adjective
• dismayingly adverb

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

He's watched the unfolding story of the last 10 years with a mixture of optimism and, more often, dismay.

From BBC

Some of the friends who helped McGee on the night of his overdose grew distant for a time, too dismayed over the turmoil he was causing himself and those around him.

From Los Angeles Times

That mission made his shooting on a college campus in Utah all the more poignant to his friends and allies, who reacted with dismay at videos of the shooting circulating online.

From Los Angeles Times

Increasingly dismayed, Dudek hatched a plan that seemed to embody his mix of good intentions, hubris and melodrama.

From Salon

Under duress, the father reluctantly retrieved the ball from his son and handed it over, much to the shock and dismay of onlookers.

From Salon

Related Words

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