dismayed

American

[dis-meyd] / dɪsˈmeɪd /

adjective

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.
surprised and disillusioned or disappointed.

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

the simple past tense and past participle of dismay.

Other Word Forms

dismayedness noun
undismayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of dismayed

dismay ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

Early in 2025, multiple observers highlighted the Sphere's ongoing struggle to make money and one critic was left "confused and slightly dismayed" by their visit.

From BBC

But she was most nervous about facing returning champion Bob Mortimer, who entered season two to a chorus of dismayed gasps.

From BBC

The Gulf Arabs are dismayed by what has happened.

From BBC

The company, by then renamed 2Rivers, said it was “dismayed” by the allegation and that it complied with international sanctions.

From The Wall Street Journal

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said he was "dismayed" by reports of the air strikes and civilian casualties.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023