to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion: She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
to alarm; perturb: The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.
noun
sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment.
sudden disillusionment.
agitation of mind; perturbation; alarm.
Origin of dismay
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English desmay (noun), de(s)mayen, dismayen (verb), from presumed Anglo-French alteration, by prefix change, of Old French esmaier “to trouble, frighten,” from unattested Vulgar Latin exmagāre “to disable, deprive of strength,” equivalent to ex-ex-1 + *magāre, from Germanic *magan “to be able to”; see may1
Platforms like Facebook and other businesses whose revenue will take a hit from lost ad dollars have reacted with anger and dismay, while the opt-out means that marketers will have a tougher time targeting consumers efficiently.
Deep Dive: How the Summer of 2020 forced brand marketing to change for the better|jim cooper|September 14, 2020|Digiday
It is only in the chapter on the Many-Worlds Interpretation that he voices his dismay.
Your Guide to the Many Meanings of Quantum Mechanics - Facts So Romantic|Sabine Hossenfelder|September 3, 2020|Nautilus
The further you get from Wall Street, the deeper the dismay about the state of the economy.
Can the Dow’s Big Tech makeover finally push the blue chip index above 30,000?|Bernhard Warner|August 25, 2020|Fortune
Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s classic 2003 novel Oryx and Crake refers to a time when “there was a lot of dismay out there, and not enough ambulances”—a prediction of our current predicament.
Science Fiction Explores the Interconnectedness Revealed by the Coronavirus Pandemic|Mayurika Chakravorty|August 9, 2020|Singularity Hub
To the dismay of many public health experts, that remains a question up for debate in the United States even as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
Why scientists say wearing masks shouldn’t be controversial|Tina Hesman Saey|June 26, 2020|Science News
The angsty, hazy mind of a teenager is a source of constant befuddlement and dismay for full-grown observers.
Who Invented the ‘Teenager’?|Nina Strochlic|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And then there's a boy of about 16 (who, to my dismay, has no involvement in the show) wearing a hat made of aluminum foil.
Backstage at the Razzie Awards, Honoring Hollywood’s Worst Films|David Eckstein|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What can we do except to throw up our hands in dismay at the baffling nature of life?
Confessions of a Death Camp Collaborator: Claude Lanzmann’s ‘The Last of the Unjust’|Jimmy So|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The humility of Joseph to accept this news when most would have responded with incredulity and dismay.
The True Gifts of Christmas Are Life, Love, and the Mystery of God|Joshua DuBois|December 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Most expressed discomfort or dismay over the whole spectacle.
America’s Women Hate the Government Shutdown, Blame Republicans|Michelle Cottle|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It should have filled us with dismay, but instead it seemed the beginning of brighter things.
Tell England|Ernest Raymond
A stick broke under him with a snap, there was a sudden rustling in the bushes, and Sid uttered a cry of dismay.
A Quarter-Back's Pluck|Lester Chadwick
She set the cup down before him, and he promptly dipped a fern root into it; then started back with a cry of dismay.
"Some Say"|Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards
It was a wider passage than that which she was leaving, and this fact added to her dismay.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 6, No. 6, December 1864|Various
I was in the upper story, when, looking up, to my dismay I saw a bright light overhead; the roof had been set on fire.
In the Rocky Mountains|W. H. G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for dismay
dismay
/ (dɪsˈmeɪ) /
verb(tr)
to fill with apprehension or alarm
to fill with depression or discouragement
noun
consternation or agitation
Derived forms of dismay
dismaying, adjective
Word Origin for dismay
C13: from Old French desmaiier (unattested), from des-dis-1 + esmayer to frighten, ultimately of Germanic origin; see may1