consternation

noun

Definition of consternationnext
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.

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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 With how macho the mobsters all are, this causes a ton of consternation, both within the family and across the river in New York, especially considering Vito is married to Phil's cousin. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026 Their opponents, who sought to defeat the Constitution’s ratification, were then dubbed the Anti-Federalists, much to the latter’s consternation. — Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Many Moves, Many Injuries New York did not sign slugger Pete Alonso and ace closer Edwin Diaz last winter, much to the consternation of many fans. — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 But the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization voted in May to rescind support for the project after months of consternation in the community over the impacts of the new lanes on neighborhoods and the environment. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
  1. dismay
  2. tension
  3. panic
  4. unease
  5. distress
Noun
  • Colonists down south, especially fierce New England Protestants who took a dim view of Catholicism, viewed this act – and their new fellow imperial subjects – with dismay and considerable suspicion.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • The decision to wean, much to the dismay of many, can come from either party.
    — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • The clinical version dates to research in the 1960s and 1970s, when devices tracked heart rate variability, muscle tension and skin temperature to help people regulate what was once considered automatic.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
  • Analysts expect gas prices to continue falling but remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
    — Keith Laing, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • Messaging is also critical, given the impact of panic-buying.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • By then, CrowdStrike had fallen to the $90s, as panic had repeatedly ensued.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • To convey the family’s internal unease, Cárdenas landed on a number of devices that were subtle but significant in terms of changing the optics of the series.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
  • Declassified British documents from the 1960s revealed government unease over the presence of the micronation, as well as eventually shelved plans to bomb it.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • Watch closely for signs of heat distress in yourself and others, including your neighbors and the elderly, Delaney said.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Never upside down — The flag should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of distress.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of distress

Browse Nearby Words

constellations
consternation
constituent
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Cite this Entry

“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consternation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of consternation for Spanish Speakers

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