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⇱ dismayed - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

dismayed

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌdɪsˈmeɪd/


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•may /dɪsˈmeɪ/USA pronunciation   v. [ ~ + obj]
  1. to break down the courage of completely;
    surprise unpleasantly:The child's failing grades dismayed his parents.

n. [uncountable]
  1. sudden or complete loss of courage:My heart sank with dismay as I realized what I had done.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•may  (dis mā′),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly;
    daunt:The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
  2. to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion:She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
  3. to alarm;
    perturb:The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.

n. 
  1. sudden or complete loss of courage;
    utter disheartenment.
  2. sudden disillusionment.
  3. agitation of mind;
    perturbation;
    alarm.
  • Gmc *magan to be able to; see may1
  • Vulgar Latin *exmagāre to disable, deprive of strength, equivalent. to ex- ex- + *magāre
  • presumed Anglo-French alteration, by prefix change, of Old French esmaier to trouble, frighten
  • Middle English desmay (noun, nominal), de(s)mayen, dismayen (verb, verbal) 1275–1325
dis•may′ing•ly, adv. 
    1. appall, terrify, frighten, scare, intimidate, disconcert. See discourage. 4. consternation, terror, panic, horror, fear.
    1. hearten. 4. confidence.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dismay /dɪsˈmeɪ/ vb (transitive)
  1. to fill with apprehension or alarm
  2. to fill with depression or discouragement
 n
  1. consternation or agitation
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French desmaiier (unattested), from des- dis-1 + esmayer to frighten, ultimately of Germanic origin; see may1disˈmaying adj
'dismayed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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