dismay

Meaning

Verb

1. To cause to feel apprehension; great sadness, or fear; to deprive of energy
2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
3. To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.

Noun

1. A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits
2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.

Concepts

dismay

alarm

consternation

appal

appall

scare

astound

dread

horrify

startle

disconcert

fear

shock

dumbfound

puzzle

stagger

stun

stupefy

take aback

stupor

fright

terror

confusion

panic

distress

horror

demoralise

demoralize

depress

dispirit

disheartenment

consternate

daunt

frighten

funk

terrify

affright

grief

discompose

disquiet

fluster

trouble

discomfiture

remorse

bewilderment

cast down

deject

get down

discouragement

discomfort

intimidate

worry

fearfulness

timorousness

cow

trepidation

apprehension

outrage

knock down

anxiety

apathy

deduction

dejection

demand

depression

exhaustion

fatigue

gloom

indolence

lifelessness

melancholia

melancholy

sadness

sale

sorrow

subtraction

weakness

weariness

numb

agitate

annoy

bother

discomfit

perturb

ruffle

unnerve

upset

fall into a panic

fluster oneself

menace

heart-stricken

embarrassment

perplexity

amate

perturbation

amaze

astonish

bewilder

distract

perplex

cowardice

pusillanimity

sheepishness

shyness

timidity

timidness

quake

tremble

trembling

tremor

misgiving

terrorise

terrorize

chill

crush

mash

overwhelm

smash

squash

squelch

unman

boggle

be sorry

deplore

disappointment

regret

agony

anguish

stress

awe

stupefaction

angst

uneasiness

despair

desperation

despondency

advise against

dissuade

discourage

dishearten

oppress

deter

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪsˈmeɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English dismayen, from Anglo-Norman *desmaiier, alteration of Old French esmaier (“to frighten”), probably from Vulgar Latin *exmagare (“to deprive (someone) of strength, to disable”), from ex- + *magare (“to enable, empower”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą, *maganą (“might, power”), from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (“to be able”).
Akin to Old High German magan, megin (“power, might, main”), Old English mæġen (“might, main”), Old High German magan, mugan (“to be powerful, able”), Old English magan (“to be able”). Cognate with Portuguese desmaiar (“to faint”) and Spanish esmayar. See also Portuguese esmagar, Spanish amagar. More at main, may.