dismay

Noun · Verb
US[dih-smey]/dɪˈsmeɪ/2 syllables
Synonyms: discouragementdisheartenmentalarmconsternationdepressdejectcast downget downdispiritdemoralizedemoraliseappal

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. the feeling of despair in the face of obstaclesSynonyms: discouragementdisheartenmentType of despairKinds intimidation
  2. fear resulting from the awareness of dangerSynonyms: alarmconsternationType of fear, fearfulnessAttribute of alarming, unalarming

Verb (2)dismayed, dismaying

  1. lower someone's spirits; make downhearted“These news depressed her”“The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her”Synonyms: depressdejectcast downget downdispiritdemoralizedemoraliseOpposite elateMore general discourageMore specific chill, embitter
  2. fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised“I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview”“The news of the executions horrified us”Synonyms: alarmappalappallhorrifyMore general frighten, frightMore specific shock

Related words dispirit verb, depressant adjective, sedative noun, alarmist noun, alarm noun

Word of the day · Nov 9About this word
inexorableadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Dis·may′ transitive verb [past tense & past participle Dismayed; present participle & verbal noun Dismaying.]

Origin: OE. desmaien, dismaien, OF. esmaier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OHG. magan to be strong or able; akin to E. may. In English the pref. es- was changed to dis- (L. dis-). See May, intransitive verb

1. To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive or firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.— Josh. i. 9.
What words be these? What fears do you dismay?— Edward Fairfax

2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. obsolete

Do not dismay yourself for this.— Edmund Spenser

Synonyms: To terrify; fright; affright; frighten; appall; daunt; dishearthen; dispirit; discourage; deject; depress. — To Dismay, Daunt, Appall. Dismay denotes a state of deep and gloomy apprehension. To daunt supposes something more sudden and startling. To appall is the strongest term, implying a sense of terror which overwhelms the faculties.

So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed, The lions roaring through the midnight shade.— Alexander Pope
Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control.— Alexander Pope
Now the last ruin the whole host appalls; Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls.— Alexander Pope
Dis·may′ intransitive verb

To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. obsolete William Shakespeare

Dis·may′ noun

Origin: Cf. OF. esmai, F. émoi. See Dismay, transitive verb

1. Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.

I... can not think of such a battle without dismay.— Thomas Babington Macaulay
Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey, And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay.— Anna L. Barbauld

2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Edmund Spenser

Synonyms: Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright; terror; apprehension; alarm; affright.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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