Dismay is a word for a strong negative reaction. As a noun, it describes fear, shock, or discouragementa feeling of loss of hope or confidence. As a verb, it means to upset, discourageto make someone feel less confident or eager, or alarmto frighten or worry someone someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪsˈmeɪ/
Easy pronunciation: dis-MAY (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable.
Noun meaning a feeling of fear, shock, or discouragement.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dismay Meaning
a feeling of upset fear or discouragement
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the feeling of fear, shock, or discouragement when something bad or difficult happens
Example: Her calm smile hid her dismay when she saw the test results.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- alarm — Works when dismay means fear or sudden concern.
- consternation — A strong fit for sudden shock or worry.
- discouragement — Fits the sense of losing hope or confidence.
- disheartenment — A close match for losing courage or hope.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Dismay
Meaning 2
to make someone feel discouraged
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to lower someone's spirits or make them feel less hopeful
Example: The long delay dismayed the whole team.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cast down — A direct match for making someone sad or less hopeful.
- deject — Works for causing sadness or discouragement.
- demoralise — A strong synonym in British English.
- demoralize — A strong synonym in American English spelling.
- depress — Can fit, but is broader and often stronger than dismay.
- dispirit — Good match for making someone lose confidence or energy.
- get down — Informal and close in meaning, but less precise.
Meaning 3
to alarm or upset someone
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to fill someone with apprehension or alarm, or to cause unpleasant surprise
Example: The sudden silence dismayed the crowd.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- alarm — Works when the meaning is to cause worry or alarm.
- appal — Good British spelling for deeply upsetting or shocking someone.
- appall — Good American spelling for deeply upsetting or shocking someone.
- horrify — Fits only when the reaction is very strong.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dismay Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- consternation
- alarm
- discouragement
- disheartenment
verb: to lower someone's spirits
- cast down
- deject
- demoralise
- demoralize
- depress
- dispirit
- get down
verb: to alarm or shock someone
- alarm
- appal
- appall
- horrify
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using dismay to mean simple disappointment; it usually suggests a stronger reaction than that.
- Confusing the noun and verb forms: dismay can be a feeling, or it can mean to cause that feeling.
- Treating appal and appall as different words in meaning; they are just British and American spellings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dismay mean?
Dismay means a feeling of fear, shock, or discouragement. It can also mean to upset or alarm someone.
Is dismay a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it names the feeling. As a verb, it means to cause that feeling.
What are the best synonyms for dismay?
Good synonyms depend on the sense. For the noun, consternation and alarm can work. For the verb, alarm, discourage, or dishearten may fit, depending on the context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.