dismay

1 of 2

verb

dis·​may dis-ˈmā How to pronounce dismay (audio)
diz-
dismayed; dismaying

transitive verb

1
: to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear)
must not let ourselves be dismayed by the task before us
2
: upset, perturb
were dismayed by the condition of the building

dismay

2 of 2

noun

1
: sudden loss of courage or resolution from alarm or fear
watched with dismay as flames engulfed their home
2
a
: sudden disappointment
announced her retirement, much to the dismay of her fans
b
: perturbation sense 1
expressed dismay at his strange behavior
Choose the Right Synonym for dismay

dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.

dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Examples of dismay in a Sentence

Verb Her choice of career dismays her parents. the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started Noun His comments were met with cries of dismay. They watched in dismay as the house burned. Much to the dismay of her fans, she announced her retirement immediately after the book's release. To my dismay, I did not get chosen for the job. We listened with dismay to the news of the accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Investors are dismayed by the uncertainty brought about by Trump’s mercurial tariff policies, which could disrupt global trade and alienate U.S. allies. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025 Young people who aspired to government service dismayed by Trump ending the federal fellows program Secretary of State Rubio says purge of USAID programs complete, with 83% of agency’s programs gone What’s next for Denver’s budget and mayor following immigration hearing in D.C.? The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
Gone, too, is the Latin Mass revival, which, to the dismay of many Catholics around the world, Francis quashed via a motu proprio in 2021. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025 The raid at the Copa Club was greeted with dismay online. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dismay

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French desmaier, from des- dis- + -maier, from Vulgar Latin *-magare, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German magan to be able — more at may entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dismay was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dismay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismay. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

dismay

1 of 2 verb
dis·​may dis-ˈmā How to pronounce dismay (audio)
diz-
1
: to cause to lose courage or to feel concern : daunt
dismayed by their opponent's size
2
: upset entry 1 sense 2a, perturb
dismayed by the poor turnout
dismayingly adverb

dismay

2 of 2 noun
1
: loss of courage or determination from alarm or fear
2
: a feeling of alarm or disappointment

More from Merriam-Webster on dismay

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