dismay
Americanverb (used with object)
-
dismays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dismayed,
past participle, past
-
dismaying
present participle
-
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
-
to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion.
She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
-
to alarm; perturb.
The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.
noun
-
sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment.
- Synonyms:
- fear, horror, panic, terror, consternation, disconcert
- Antonyms:
- confidence
-
sudden disillusionment.
-
agitation of mind; perturbation; alarm.
verb
-
to fill with apprehension or alarm
-
to fill with depression or discouragement
noun
Synonym Usage
See discourage.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dismaysimple
-
dismayssimple
-
have dismayedperfect
-
has dismayedperfect
-
am dismayingprogressive
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are dismayingprogressive
-
is dismayingprogressive
-
have been dismayingperfect progressive
-
has been dismayingperfect progressive
Past
-
dismayedsimple
-
had dismayedperfect
-
was dismayingprogressive
-
were dismayingprogressive
-
had been dismayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dismay
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”; see may 1
Explanation
If you discover late Sunday night that the dog really did eat your homework, you might cry out in dismay. Dismay describes an emotional state of alarm, fear, or serious disappointment. The first part of dismay comes from the Latin prefix dis-, which comes in handy when you want to put a negative spin on words (dishonest, discount, disenchant, etc.). The last bit of dismay most likely comes from the Germanic word magan, meaning "to be able to." You can employ the word dismay to describe how you feel in a variety of negative situations that you doubt you are able to handle.
Vocabulary lists containing dismay
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Since April, sites in Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and elsewhere have been transformed, prompting legal battles and local dismay.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
At a point when the generals decreed that thousands of noncombatants should be left behind in hostile territory, the author notes with dismay that the soldiery raised no objection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Iran voiced "dismay" over Qatar's accusations in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA, calling the claims "unacceptable."
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The armchair referee system, so far from unassailable, is also unappealable — to U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino’s dismay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
There to his dismay he saw Ares too.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Yet the world's inability to fund more Mosquirix shots dismays many in Africa.
From Reuters ● Jul. 13, 2022
Archpriest Andriy Pinchuk, 44, the former mayor of a small agricultural village just south of the central city of Dnipro, said the hesitancy dismays many parish priests.
From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2022
“I think, though, that it’s all right for you to say that this concerns you, that it dismays you, and you are always concerned with aggression,” Johnson told Nixon, referring to him as “Dick.”
From Washington Post ● Mar. 1, 2022
Yet despite that sharp contrast with Trump’s wealth, Merritt sees a similarity between the two men that dismays her.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2019
From the little he knows about Russian writers, it dismays him that his parents chose the weirdest namesake.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Beijing was initially dismayed by the coup that triggered chaos on its doorstep, analysts said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Speaking exclusively to BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Russell said he would be "dismayed" by such a decision.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
While Mr. Blanche was Republicans’ whipping boy, their real target was Mr. Trump, whose recent interventions in Republican politics have dismayed them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
Tucci’s endearingly steadfast Nigel is finally applauded for his years of service to Runway, and I was dismayed to find myself rolling my eyes at how corny the moment felt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
He was a shrewd, soft-spoken man who was well-disposed to our mission, but his perception of the situation surprised and dismayed me.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Since Shakespeare’s verse for the young lovers is among his most rhapsodic and hypnotically beautiful, the choice is dismaying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
The co-owner of the Swiss bar hit by a deadly fire during New Year celebrations was released from custody on Friday after bail was paid on his behalf, dismaying victims' families.
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
No American orchestra of San Diego’s merit or promise under its rising star music director, Rafael Payare, had been stuck in so dismaying a venue as Symphony Towers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2024
It is dismaying that when a cougar kills livestock that the solution is to kill the cougar.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2023
I swallowed down the heavy lump in the back of my throat, fighting the dismaying urge to cry.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
