Word Explorer

Dismay

/dɪsˈmeɪ/

A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Dismay"

noun

1
A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits
"He looked in dismay at the destruction of the town caused by the hurricane."
2
Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.

verb

1
To cause to feel apprehension; great sadness, or fear; to deprive of energy
2
To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
3
To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.

🔄 Synonyms of "Dismay"

13 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
appallverb	(transitive) To fill with horror or indignation; to dismay.
consternationnoun	Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
alarmnoun	Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
dejectnoun	(transitive) Make sad or dispirited.
discouragementnoun	The loss of confidence or enthusiasm.
appalverb	UK spelling of appall.
depressverb	To make depressed, sad or bored.
disheartenmentnoun	The state of being disheartened; dejection.
demoralizeverb	To destroy the morale of; to dishearten.
horrifyverb	To cause to feel extreme apprehension or unease; to cause to experience horror.
dispiritverb	(transitive) To lower the morale of; to make despondent; to dishearten.
get downverb	(intransitive) To relax and enjoy oneself completely; be uninhibited in one's enjoyment.
cast downverb	(transitive) To make (a person) discouraged or dejected.

↔️ Antonyms of "Dismay"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
elateverb	(transitive) To make joyful or proud.
upliftnoun	To raise something or someone to a higher physical, social, moral, intellectual, spiritual or emotional level.
lift upverb	(transitive) To elevate to a higher position.
intoxicateverb	To stupefy by doping with chemical substances such as alcohol.
pick upverb	(transitive) To lift; to grasp and raise.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Dismay"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
appallverb	(transitive) To fill with horror or indignation; to dismay.
dejectnoun	One who is lowly or abject.
disheartenmentnoun	The state of being disheartened; dejection.
depressverb	To make depressed, sad or bored.
discouragementnoun	The loss of confidence or enthusiasm.
dispiritverb	(transitive) To lower the morale of; to make despondent; to dishearten.
demoralizeverb	To destroy the morale of; to dishearten.
horrifyverb	To cause to feel extreme apprehension or unease; to cause to experience horror.
cast downverb	(transitive) To make (a person) discouraged or dejected.
consternationnoun	Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
appalverb	UK spelling of appall.
get downverb	(intransitive) To relax and enjoy oneself completely; be uninhibited in one's enjoyment.
alarmnoun	Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
despondencynoun	The loss of hope or confidence; despair or dejection.
desperationnoun	A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope.
despairnoun	Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
chagrinnoun	Distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification.
sadnessnoun	(uncountable) The state or emotion of being sad.
hopelessnessnoun	A lack of hope; despair.
griefnoun	Emotional pain, generally arising from misfortune, significant personal loss, bereavement, misconduct of oneself or others, etc.; sorrow; sadness.