Dismay
/dɪsˈmeɪ/
nounverbB2
Definition
Dismay is the feeling you get when something surprises you in a bad way and makes you worried or upset. It is more than just being a little sad; it often includes shock or fear about what might happen next. When used as a verb, it means to make someone feel this unhappy or worried.
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⚡ See It in Action
Noun: A strong feeling of sadness, worry, or disappointment caused by something unexpected or bad
- •She felt dismay when she saw the damage after the storm.
- •To their dismay, the event was canceled at the last minute.
- •His face showed dismay after hearing the bad news.
Verb: To cause someone to feel sad, worried, or disappointed
- •The sudden failure dismayed the whole team.
- •The news of the delay dismayed the passengers.
- •It dismayed her to learn that the project was stopped.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "dismay" like "sad" but stronger and mixed with surprise or worry—like when something bad happens suddenly
- ✓Picture a person opening a letter and seeing bad news, their face showing shock and sadness at the same time
- ✓It's the feeling you get when your plans fail, and you don't know what to do next
- ✓Sounds like "dis-MAY" → imagine the month of May turning dark and gloomy, bringing unexpected bad feelings
- ✓Imagine a story where a hero finds out the treasure is lost—this sudden sadness and worry is dismay
- ✓NOT like "fear" (which is mainly being scared), dismay is sadness mixed with worry and surprise
- ✓NOT like "anger" (which is strong upset), dismay is more about feeling sad and worried inside
- ✓NOT like "disappointment" alone, dismay often includes a shock or surprise part, not just letdown
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Disappointment: feeling sad because something did not happen as hoped (Use when the feeling is mostly about things not going well, without surprise or worry)
- •Shock: a strong surprise that causes upset or fear (Use when the surprise is very sudden and strong, with less sadness)
- •Concern: feeling worried about something (Use when the feeling is more about thinking carefully about a problem, less about sadness)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (a negative or opposite meaning) + root "may" (from Old French "meser," meaning to cause trouble or harm)
- •Etymology: From Old French "desmaiier," meaning to lose courage or be troubled
- •Historical development: Originally meant to lose hope or courage; over time, it came to mean a strong feeling of sadness or worry caused by trouble
- •Modern usage: Used both as a noun and verb to describe feelings or causes of sadness, worry, or disappointment often mixed with surprise or shock
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you react when you feel dismay? Can you think of a time when you felt this way suddenly?
•What is the difference between feeling dismay and feeling disappointment? How do these feelings change your actions?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She felt dismay because ___ ___ the unexpected cancellation of her flight.
2.The sudden news of the accident dismayed everyone, causing ___ ___ worry and sadness.
3.Unlike simple disappointment, dismay often includes a ___ ___ surprise or shock.
4.To their dismay, the team realized they had ___ ___ lost the game in the last minute.
5.When you dismay someone, you make them feel ___ ___ sad or worried about what happened.
6.The manager's dismay was clear when he saw the ___ ___ poor results of the project.
7.People often feel dismay when plans ___ ___ suddenly change without warning.