as in dismay
formal
a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion
The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue. Much to her parents' consternation, she had decided to not go to college.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of consternation
Phillips went back to the well on the next pitch and plunked Adames, prompting some consternation from San Francisco’s shortstop.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
A days-long web outage for California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is causing consternation for users and ripple effects for the agency.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The consternation about Iran, after all, stems from its hold over global oil and energy supplies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Pat McAfee, to the consternation of fans, aligned himself with Orton and will likely be featured in the title match in some way.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
A days-long web outage for California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is causing consternation for users and ripple effects for the agency.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The consternation about Iran, after all, stems from its hold over global oil and energy supplies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Pat McAfee, to the consternation of fans, aligned himself with Orton and will likely be featured in the title match in some way.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
Noun
-
The Los Angeles reservoir that was notoriously empty during the 2025 Palisades fire has been drained once again as crews replace its floating cover, to the dismay of area residents who worry that there won’t be water available to fight wildfires.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Our shock and dismay comes not from political differences — but from their lack of knowledge beyond superficialities.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Taurus Sun squares intense Pluto in Aquarius, pushing tension between your sense of self and outside demands.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The government is mindful of not hurting economic growth or spurring panic among consumers.—
Shoko Oda,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Radioactive clouds spread, causing panic as far away as Germany and Britain; millions of litres of milk were dumped; livestock was destroyed or banned from sale.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tens of thousands of layoffs at Meta over the last four years as the company balances its AI ambitions with investor unease.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, Burry signaled growing unease with the broader market after a relentless rally to record highs despite persistent geopolitical tensions.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to battery, fraud and intentionally inflicting emotional distress, Mendoza is suing Clavicular for the unauthorized publication of her name and likeness.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That standard is based on the Five Freedoms of animal welfare developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council, which include freedom from hunger and thirst; from discomfort; from pain, from injury or disease, from fear and distress; and freedom to express normal behavior.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
