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 The ban came without rhyme or reason, aside from Trump expressing consternation over coverage and threatening further bans against other networks. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026 His injury-riddled tenure in Boston has warranted that consternation. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Much of their consternation stems from the fact that the DWP plan provides no specifics about where the hydrogen will come from, or how the highly combustible material will be transported to the power plant and stored there. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 The trade drew consternation from many Dallas fans who were critical of the team's decision to trade away the now-27-year-old face of the franchise. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consternation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consternation
  1. dismay
  2. tension
  3. panic
  4. unease
  5. distress
Noun
  • And to my family’s dismay, more good books are being published every week.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Just like that, months of dismay — and his 0-for-3 start to the afternoon — were forgotten.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • The killing of a woman in Okinawa has sparked an outcry across Japan and inflamed long-simmering tensions over the US military presence on the island.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The long sleeves of the blazer included a bevy of thin, frayed feathers that created textural tension.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • Perhaps more relevant, these concerns arrived hundreds of billions of investment dollars prior to the latest AI-extinction panic.
    — Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Liz has written a lot about the panic in private credit being overblown, but there are some real questions about the quality of its loans — from regulators, not just us in the press.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • That slight sense of unease, coupled with Faith’s crystalline country voice and boundary-pushing songwriting, is at the core of her record Cherry Valley (and the recent deluxe version, Cherry Valley Forever).
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Asked whether the ongoing appeals create any unease, Rosario waved it off.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • The vast majority expressed deep distress and anger at their government after the massacres that took place in response to January’s mass protests.
    — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While ChatGPT isn’t a substitute for professional mental health care, our safeguards are designed to identify distress, safely handle harmful requests, and guide users to real-world help.
    — Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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