dismay

UK: /ˌdɪsˈmeɪ/ US: /dɪsˈmeɪ/ ,(dis mā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•may /dɪsˈmeɪ/   v. [ ~ + obj]

1. to break down the courage of completely;
   surprise unpleasantly:
   The child's failing grades dismayed his parents.

n. [uncountable]

2. sudden or complete loss of courage:
   My heart sank with dismay as I realized what I had done.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•may  (dis mā′), v.t. 

1. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly;
   daunt:
   The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
2. to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion:
   She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
3. to alarm;
   perturb:
   The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.

n. 

4. sudden or complete loss of courage;
   utter disheartenment.
5. sudden disillusionment.
6. agitation of mind;
   perturbation;
   alarm.

• Gmc *magan to be able to; see may¹
• Vulgar Latin *exmagāre to disable, deprive of strength, equivalent. to ex- ex- + *magāre
• presumed Anglo-French alteration, by prefix change, of Old French esmaier to trouble, frighten
• Middle English desmay (noun, nominal), de(s)mayen, dismayen (verb, verbal) 1275–1325

dis•mayed•ness  (dis mād′nis, -mā′id-), n.  dis•may′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. appall, terrify, frighten, scare, intimidate, disconcert. See discourage. 
• 4. consternation, terror, panic, horror, fear.

Antonyms

• 1. hearten.
• 4. confidence.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dismay / dɪsˈmeɪ/ verb (transitive)

1. to fill with apprehension or alarm
2. to fill with depression or discouragement

noun

1. consternation or agitation

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French desmaiier (unattested), from des- dis-¹ + esmayer to frighten, ultimately of Germanic origin; see may¹

disˈmaying adjective