Pronunciation: /dɪsˈmeɪ/

Definitions of dismay

noun a sudden or complete loss of courage or resolution due to something unexpected or perceived as unfavorable

Example Sentences

A1 She felt dismay when she realized she had forgotten her homework.

A2 The students expressed dismay at the sudden change in the exam schedule.

B1 The team's dismay was evident after losing the championship game.

B2 The manager tried to hide her dismay at the poor performance of her team.

C1 His face showed no sign of dismay as he calmly accepted the news of his demotion.

C2 The artist's dismay at the negative reviews of his latest masterpiece was palpable.

verb to cause someone to feel distress or disheartenment

Example Sentences

A1 She felt dismay when she saw her exam results.

A2 The students were dismayed by the sudden change in the schedule.

B1 The news of the company's bankruptcy dismayed the employees.

B2 The team was dismayed by the last-minute decision to cancel the project.

C1 The politician's scandalous behavior dismayed his supporters.

C2 The artist was dismayed by the negative reviews of his latest exhibition.

Examples of dismay in a Sentence

formal The shareholders expressed dismay at the company's declining profits.

informal I was filled with dismay when I saw the final exam questions.

slang I was totally bummed out when I heard the news, what a dismay!

figurative The dark clouds of dismay loomed over her as she realized her mistake.

Grammatical Forms of dismay

past tense

dismayed

plural

dismays

comparative

more dismayed

superlative

most dismayed

present tense

dismay

future tense

will dismay

perfect tense

have dismayed

continuous tense

is dismayed

singular

dismay

positive degree

dismay

infinitive

to dismay

gerund

dismaying

participle

dismayed

Origin and Evolution of dismay

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'dismay' originated from the Old French word 'desmaiier' which means to frighten or discourage.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'dismay' evolved to encompass feelings of distress, anxiety, and loss of courage, in addition to its original meaning of fear or discouragement.