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dismay definition

dis·may (dis mā′)

transitive verb

to make afraid or discouraged at the prospect of trouble or danger; fill with apprehension or alarm; daunt

Etymology: ME dismayen < Anglo-Fr *desmaier < des-, intens. + OFr esmayer, to deprive of power < VL *exmagare < L ex-, from + Gmc base *mag, power: see main

noun

a loss of courage or confidence at the prospect of trouble or danger; consternation

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

dismay Synonyms

dismay

n.

alarm, consternation, anxiety, disheartenment; see confusion 2, fear 2.


dismay

v.

appall, horrify, daunt, frighten, terrify, petrify, unnerve, abash, disconcert, dishearten; see also confuse, discourage 1, frighten 1.

dismay suggests fear or, esp. in modern usage, discouragement at the prospect of some difficulty or problem which one does not quite know how to resolve dismayed at his lack of understanding; appall suggests terror or (now more commonly) consternation at a shocking but apparently unalterable situation an appalling death rate; horrify suggests horror or loathing (or, in a weakened sense, irritation) at that which shocks or offends one horrified at the suggestion; daunt implies a becoming disheartened in the performance of an act that requires some courage never daunted by adversity


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

dismay Usage Examples

Subject

  • lack: Pupil Lauren Hendy said she was dismayed by the lack of passion from the school.

Object

  • bit: As I have been unwell as long as I can remember, I was a little bit dismayed by this.

Converse of object

  • express: They expressed dismay over the emphasis placed on making loans.

Preposition: at

  • prospect: Two Trojan sentries, who have taken a liking to life in Carthage, are dismayed at the prospect of leaving.

Adjective modifier

  • utter: Then, to our utter dismay, we watched Mr Clamp light the petrol-soaked hay with a burning brand!

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: Of those who had known me as an innocent child some were utterly dismayed.

Used with why or when

  • when: So why be dismayed when things do not happen as you wish and desire?

Infinitive complement

  • discover: On her return the following day Mrs OB was dismayed to discover what had happened.

Preposition: by

  • lack: Pupil Lauren Hendy said she was dismayed by the lack of passion from the school.
dismay usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

dismay quotes

Father in Heaven, whenthethoughtof Thee wakesinour hearts, let it not awaken like a frightened bird that flies about in dismay, but like a child waking from its sleep with a heavenly smile.

-Kierkegaard, So«  ren Aabye

   Hobbits are an unobtrusive but veryancient people, more numerous formerly than theyare today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well- ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt† Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of 'the Big Folk', as they call us, and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to find.

-Tolkien,J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel)

dismay quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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dismay. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/dismay

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