How to Use dismay in a Sentence

dismay

1 of 2 verb
  • Her choice of career dismays her parents.
  • Gilbert was dismayed to lose the chance to build a case over time.
    — Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
  • But she was dismayed to never learn about such things in school.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • For a very long time, I have been dismayed at the amount of content.
    — Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 July 2023
  • Don't be dismayed when strawberries don't bear much the first year.
    — Kym Pokorny, OregonLive.com, 8 May 2018
  • Smith said he was dismayed by politicians who say the nation doesn't need more prayers.
    — Alyson Ward, Houston Chronicle, 21 May 2018
  • Weiers said he was dismayed by the condition Lopez's house was in.
    — Brieanna J. Frank, azcentral, 6 July 2019
  • He was dismayed when the text explaining where the blood and oil had been sourced was removed.
    — Nadia Beard, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024
  • For their part, Democrats were dismayed by the evolving debate.
    — Laura Meckler, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2017
  • The footage sparked outrage and dismay across Israel.
    — Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
  • But he was dismayed at how the cross's message of love had turned into something ugly.
    — Kristine Parks, Fox News, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Thinking of my mother marooned in her house was dismaying to me.
    — Nicholas Dawidoff, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
  • But the idea of doing the same thing, day after day, year after year, was dismaying to her.
    — Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2019
  • Some of Napoli’s teammates were more dismayed by Bregman’s post.
    — Stefan Stevenson, star-telegram.com, 1 May 2017
  • Still, even some district leaders were dismayed by the early going.
    — Laura Meckler, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
  • They were dismayed the department didn't seem to be thinking bigger.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
  • Solari also was dismayed at the amount of work done on the proposals behind closed doors.
    — Mary Ellen Klas and Lawrence Mower, miamiherald, 20 Apr. 2018
  • But the singer was dismayed that his looks seemed to receive nearly as much attention as his music.
    — Eileen Finan, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • City types of a certain age have been dismayed at the loss of one of the Square Mile’s bastions.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Those who managed to receive some aid after waiting hours in line were dismayed by the meager hand-out.
    — Julhas Alam and Dar Yasin, chicagotribune.com, 14 Sep. 2017
  • Petrescu told me that she was dismayed by the decision to send Ahmed.
    — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • But Newby said she was dismayed that someone in Reno would harm pigeons here.
    — Anjeanette Damon, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2020
  • The deal was dismaying to many in Asia who have often compared the rival apps in search of the best deal.
    — Elaine Kurtenbach, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2018
  • Residents were dismayed by drama unfolding at city hall and antsy for change.
    — Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025
  • But she was dismayed to see that Drake was charging about $500 a pair in the upper decks.
    — Ben Sisario, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023
  • At the time of the Cano and Diaz trade, many Mariners fans were dismayed and perplexed.
    — oregonlive.com, 26 July 2019
  • Don't be dismayed by the price, either, because one of the perks of this purchase is the travel-sized scent of choice that comes with it.
    — vanityfair.com, 6 July 2017
  • The time is now to climb out of our depression and dismay and look to each other for support and civic engagement.
    — Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
  • Other animal lovers are dismayed by the number of dogs and cats abandoned to shelters.
    — Roxanne Roberts, Anchorage Daily News, 11 July 2019
  • In a perfect world the days will be filled with sun, there will be just enough rain to nourish the plants and our fence will dismay all four-legged creatures.
    — Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

dismay

2 of 2 noun
  • They watched in dismay as the house burned.
  • We listened with dismay to the news of the accident.
  • His comments were met with cries of dismay.
  • To my dismay, I did not get chosen for the job.
  • Much to the dismay of her fans, she announced her retirement immediately after the book's release.
  • To his dismay, MJ has a new man in her life.
    — Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • To her dismay, my stomach took well to this new diet.
    — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • To her dismay, the rest of the museum staff was stumped as well.
    — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, 21 June 2018
  • And for many years the perfect piece evaded me, much to my dismay.
    — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022
  • Ratliff echoed others’ dismay that a cousin of Dean had been charged.
    — Glenn E. Rice and Joe Robertson, kansascity, 17 Oct. 2017
  • Edwards’ dismay didn’t last long.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Many present shared their dismay over the proposal to hike prices.
    — Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Election night hopes turned to dismay as results showed the levy failed by just eight votes.
    — Sheila Vilvens, Cincinnati.com, 8 Aug. 2017
  • But who knows, John could find a way to get her out much to Beth’s dismay.
    — Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 29 July 2022
  • Cohen reacts to these trends with dismay.
    — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Many took to social media to express their dismay over the news.
    — Lindsey Bahr, ajc, 13 Apr. 2021
  • But much to my dismay, there would always be a corner of the jar beyond my reach.
    — Michelle Tchea, Bon Appétit, 2 Nov. 2021
  • Saturday is set to be her last day, much to her customers' dismay.
    — CBS News, 28 Feb. 2021
  • The descent was a race against the rapidly setting sun, to the dismay of my knees.
    — Tori Smith, Quartz, 19 Apr. 2020
  • The surprise move was greeted with dismay and anger in the camps, and beyond.
    — The Economist, 4 Sep. 2019
  • Many took their chances on the latter, to the dismay of residents.
    — Hillary Davis, latimes.com, 25 Jan. 2018
  • The year that his signature flowing mane of hair got the chop, to many fans’ dismay.
    — Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
  • To the dismay of a few die-hard fans, King didn't get everything right.
    — Kelsea Stahler, refinery29.com, 21 May 2020
  • Much to the audience’s dismay, the lyric videos are all the clean versions of songs.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
  • As the images spread, lovers of penne lisce reacted with dismay.
    — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 5 Mar. 2020
  • Even so, some Russians have heard enough to voice dismay about the conflict and its aims.
    — Katya Korobtsova, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2022
  • But to the dismay of skiers across the state, it was shut down during the height of the coronavirus.
    — Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Nov. 2022
  • The trip was a survey of destruction and dismay.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
  • The decision to wean, much to the dismay of many, can come from either party.
    — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • To Ron's dismay, Alice is nowhere to be found in the paper.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dismay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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