dismay

dismay — noun

1. the sad, upset feeling you have when something you hoped for or expected does no

1.nounB2
Definition

the sad, upset feeling you have when something you hoped for or expected does not happen

Example

Niran could not hide his dismay when he learned the school trip was cancelled.

To the students' dismay, the concert was cancelled just hours before it began.

to + possessive + dismay (fronted prepositional phrase)

Common collocations
  • hide one's dismay
  • express dismay
  • cause dismay
  • growing dismay
  • utter dismay
Synonyms
  • disappointment

    more general; describes the feeling when hopes are not met, without the upset or sadness implied by dismay

  • distress

    stronger; implies physical or emotional suffering beyond simple disappointment

  • letdown

    informal; refers more to the disappointing event than to the emotional reaction itself

Antonyms
  • delight

    a feeling of great pleasure or satisfaction

  • satisfaction

    contentment from having needs or expectations met

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

in dismay

to + possessive + dismay

Common Mistakes

I felt a deep dismay when I heard the news.
I felt deep dismay when I heard the news.
dismay is uncountable and does not take the indefinite article 'a/an'.

2. the sudden fear or loss of confidence that comes when you realize you are in dan

2.nounC1
Definition

the sudden fear or loss of confidence that comes when you realize you are in danger or face something threatening

Example

The villagers watched in dismay as the flood waters rose past the sandbags.

watch in dismay (verb + prepositional phrase)

Iker felt a wave of dismay at the sight of armed guards near the building.

Common collocations
  • wave of dismay
  • full of dismay
  • fill with dismay
  • watch in dismay
  • stare in dismay
Synonyms
  • alarm

    focuses on the sudden fright or worry triggered by danger, often less intense than dismay

  • dread

    a deep, ongoing fear of something that might happen, rather than a sudden reaction

  • apprehension

    milder; anxious worry about a future event, without the element of immediate threat

Antonyms
  • courage

    the ability to face danger or difficulty without fear

  • confidence

    belief in your own ability to handle a situation

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

in dismay

Usage Note

Stronger and more urgent than the disappointment sense (noun/1). While sense 1 describes sadness over unfulfilled hopes, this sense describes fear and loss of courage in the face of immediate danger or threat.

dismay — verb

Word family

  • dismayed
    adjectiveB2
  • dismaying
    adjectiveC1
  • dismayingly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe negative reactions when something goes wrong, but they differ in intensity and focus. Disappointment is the most general term — the sadness you feel when something is not as good as you hoped or expected. Dismay adds an element of sudden upset or shock: you are not just disappointed, but troubled and unsettled by what happened. Distress is stronger still, implying mental suffering or anxiety, not mere disappointment. Letdown is an informal noun for an event or experience that disappoints, less often used for the feeling itself. For example, missing a bus is a disappointment; having a job offer withdrawn after you had accepted it causes dismay; learning your house has been burgled causes distress.

disappointment ↗dismay ↗distress ↗letdown

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • to one's dismay
  • in dismay
  • with dismay
  • much to someone's dismay
  • fill with dismay

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchLatinEnglish

Dismay comes from Old French desmaier, meaning 'to deprive of strength or courage.' It was formed from des- (a prefix meaning reversal) and maier ('to have power or be able'), which is related to the Latin magis ('more'). Over time, the idea of losing physical power shifted to losing emotional strength, leading to the modern meaning of sudden disappointment or fear.