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Glite Dictionary
dismaying

dismaying

3 5.5
Making people feel very worried and disappointed
  • adjective
  • /dɪsˈmeɪɪŋ/
: desconcertante
  • It was dismaying to hear that the project had been canceled after so many months of hard work.
  • even more dismaying
  • the most dismaying
  • dismaying changes

I mean, it's, it's, it, it, it, it feels really dismaying.

Examples

  • His release from Iraqi custody, while not unexpected, is nevertheless dismaying.

    Blog text (27)

  • It is dismaying that your expectations are based on the performance of a lesser primate, and also revelatory of a managerial style which is sadly lacking.

    Party Girl (1995)

  • Historical events can often be dismaying, but historical study is ultimately encouraging.

  • No, what's dismaying is that so many people were taken in in the first place.

    Blog text (18)

  • This was personally quite dismaying since I had never had any doubts about my ability to be accepted by the Japanese.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Whatever standard this administration is deciding by, its work product is utterly dismaying.

    Blog text (33)

  • The self-exposure was distracting and dismaying.

    Blog text (11)

  • Even more dismaying was the fact that Arbol kept up a steady stream of chatter the entire way.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Emperors were subject to a dismaying array of fatal illnesses.

  • The Lakers announced the results of their point guard's MRI exam Saturday, throwing yet another complication into their dismaying start to the season.

    Blog text (9)

Synonyms

disturbing
vsdismaying
357 4.2

Causing worry or fear

leans more toward strong disappointment and stunned concern rather than mere worry
troubling
vsdismaying
173 4.0

Causing worry or distress

implies a stronger, more surprising loss of confidence or shocked sadness
upsetting
vsdismaying
104 2.5

Making someone feel sad or worried

carries stronger sense of disappointment and shocked reaction than simple unhappiness
appalling
vsdismaying
84 5.6

Causing shock and strong disgust because it is very bad

is similar but centers more on disappointment and consternation than pure horror
unsettling
vsdismaying
68 4.2

Making you feel worried or uneasy

points to deeper disappointment and shocked concern rather than general unease
distressing
vsdismaying
  • Specialized
34 4.6

Causing strong worry and emotional pain

is more about strong disappointment and shocked concern rather than just sorrow
disconcerting
vsdismaying
32 7.2

Making you feel confused or uneasy

focuses more on clear disappointment and distress rather than confusion
disheartening
vsdismaying
23 5.2

Causing someone to lose confidence or hope

focuses instead on a stronger feeling of disappointment and stunned distress
heart-breaking
vsdismaying
13 3.5

To make someone feel very sad and often cry

evokes stronger disappointment and stunned concern rather than only deep sadness
disquieting
vsdismaying
8 7.0

Making people feel worried or uneasy

signals a stronger, more direct hit to hope or morale than mild unease
dispiriting
vsdismaying
5 6.3

To make someone lose hope or confidence

is more about sudden disappointment and shocked upset than gradual discouragement

Antonyms

encouraging
130 1.9

Giving someone support or hope so they feel more confident

uplifting
1 4.1

A rise of land, water, or air to a higher level

How Dismaying

horrifying
103 4.5
shocking
347 3.4
dismaying
3 5.5
unsettling
68 4.2
worrying
27 2.0

Surface Forms

dismaying positive

Morphology

dismaying = dismay (transparent) = dismay + ing

Formed from the verb 'dismay' with the adjectival '-ing' meaning 'causing dismay', a direct and predictable derivation.

Etymology

Dismaying comes from old parts dis- meaning 'away' and may meaning 'power' (think 'might'), so it originally meant 'to take away someone's courage'. That's why something dismaying makes you feel shocked, sad, or unable to act.