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dismaying

  • present participle
    of dismay.
    dismay
    verb (used with object)
    to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt.
  • a word derived from dismay.
    dismay
    verb (used with object)
    to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt.

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 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

“It is dismaying that so many of them have been forgotten.”

From New York Times ● Mar. 3, 2023

Maybe the most dismaying thing about it is that nobody could say why.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2023

One of the most surprising and perhaps dismaying revelations was that Chicago’s chief of police, in his prior legal career, had represented Holmes in a dozen routine commercial lawsuits.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson