The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans.consternationcon‧ster‧na‧tion /ˌkɒnstəˈneɪʃən $ ˌkɑːnstər-/ noun [uncountable] 
The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans. A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it).in consternation He looked at her in consternation.
WORD ORIGINconsternation
Origin:
1600-1700 French, Latin, from consternare ‘to frighten’, from consternere ‘to scatter, throw down’, from com- ( ➔ COM-) + sternere ‘to spread out’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- President Cristiani expressed profound consternation at the deaths of the two journalists.
- Flora recollected Irena's consternation with satisfaction and Felicity Green's irritation with glee.
- It had been a moment of enlightenment for him, but one which also caused him considerable consternation.
- That caused some consternation and I don't think the same person deputized again.
- The arrival of this bonny bawling boy had caused considerable consternation.
- There Taylor played after work, on holidays-and on Sundays, at first much to the consternation of the neighborhood.
- To my consternation, I found the taxi was empty.
- To the consternation of his cabinet colleagues, he is currently conducting a wide-ranging review of public spending.
- When the first order announcing Pétain's appointment was received by his staff, there was consternation at Noailles.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans. A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
a feeling of worry, shock, or fear SYN alarm: The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans. A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it).· Where was the statue to Nathaniel Patten which had caused such consternation at Thrush Green?· He remembered two or three other gifts to the church that had caused the widest consternation.· The arrival of this bonny bawling boy had caused considerable consternation.· The declining support is causing consternation in the ruling party, which is gearing up for the presidential election later this year.· He also caused consternation at the film's press conference by fielding almost all the questions himself.· The other development which caused consternation was the beginning of large public sector deficits.· This caused some consternation, both with the water-jump officials and with the nearby spectators.
The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans. A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it).in consternation He looked at her in consternation.