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

Derived Forms

• disˈmaying, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·may·ing·ly 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

To Lue’s dismay, the Clippers started poorly against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, falling behind by 26 points in the first quarter, their defense getting torched amid seven turnovers.

From Los Angeles Times

International aid charities were dismayed at what they said was a cut worth almost £2bn in the UK’s aid priorities overseas.

From BBC

A pair of the country’s most senior lawyers voiced “dismay” at the government’s handling of the judicial review brought by Mr Salmond, having suffered “extreme professional embarrassment” in court.

From BBC

“I continue to be dismayed about the fact that this is a political football, and it just keeps getting kicked from one side to the other,” Biering said in an interview.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

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