dismay — A feeling of distress and disappointment
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A feeling of distress and disappointment
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪsˈmeɪ/
Example Sentences
- Much to his dismay, his superhero costume arrived in bright pink instead of black.
- The students watched in dismay as their robot project fell apart during the competition.
- To the cat's dismay, the can opener was broken and dinner was delayed.
dismay
NOUN[/dɪsˈmeɪ/]
A feeling of distress and disappointment

The chef stares in dismay at the collapsed wedding cake minutes before the ceremony.

The delay made the flowers decay, filling her heart with dismay
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'dismayer' meaning to dishearten or discourage. The prefix 'dis-' means to reverse or negate, combined with 'may' (from Germanic roots meaning power or ability), literally meaning to deprive of power or courage.
Breakdown
dis- (reverse, negate) + may (power, ability) = dismay (to deprive of courage or confidence)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Much to his dismay, his superhero costume arrived in bright pink instead of black.”
“The students watched in dismay as their robot project fell apart during the competition.”
“To the cat's dismay, the can opener was broken and dinner was delayed.”
“The coach's dismay was evident when half the team showed up late for practice.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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