noun
dismay
dihs-MAY
noun
1
A strong feeling of sudden worry, disappointment, or discouragement.
"To her dismay, the flight had already been cancelled."
verb
1
To fill someone with worry, disappointment, or a sudden loss of confidence.
"The news of the layoffs dismayed the entire office."
How to Use Dismay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSudden shock combined with disappointment or worry.
Common pairings
to her dismay
much to my dismay
a look of dismay
Word Forms
dismayed past tense, dismays singular
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To her _____, the flight had already been cancelled.
Etymology
From Old French esmaier, "to frighten," probably from a Vulgar Latin word meaning "to deprive of strength" — ultimately related to the same root as "may" and "main" (as in "with might and main").