be dismayed with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be dismayed with" is not correct; the correct form is "be dismayed by." You can use it when expressing feelings of disappointment or distress regarding a situation or event.
Example: "I was dismayed by the news of the sudden layoffs at the company."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Prudential Equity said some investors may be dismayed with McDonald's preliminary announcement that its fourth-quarter earnings will reflect restructuring costs of 25 cents a share.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I am dismayed with Altschul's feelings about freshman year Pass/No Record, and I feel that his reasoning reflects what I consider to be the wrong attitude towards a university education.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I watch the pro-Palestinian rallies that have been staged in capitals across the globe, and I try to tell myself that these people are not against me, or even Israel; that they just are dismayed with all the violence.

The Guardian - Opinion

A man in the crowd held aloft a placard bearing the words, "Q: Disinvite Supporters" and "A: We're Nuts!" "I'm dismayed with some of our leadership group," said the creator of the sign, Arnold Zeitlin, 75, of Scarborough, in Westchester County.

The New York Times

Both Fatah and Hamas supporters are dismayed with their party leadership.

Huffington Post

For his first major solo exhibition in 1989, after being dismayed with not having any idea of what to show, he simply shut the doors of the gallery and put up a sign that read "Torno subito" ("Be Right Back"), a slogan Axelrod used as the title of her film.

Vice

Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'" Well, okay.

The Washington Post

(Reader, don't be dismayed: there are those accouterments, too).

The New York Times

I bet you'll be dismayed.

Forbes

And, he adds, there is a recognition at the "highest levels" that such snippiness is becoming unhelpful.European Union politicians and officials are dismayed that, with a poisonous debate over health reform chewing up his political capital in Congress, Mr Obama may not secure legislation fixing binding emissions targets for America before the climate-change summit in Copenhagen in December.

The Economist

As a veteran public-school teacher, I am dismayed when people with no training in education claim that they know best how schools should run.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision, carefully choose synonyms that accurately reflect the intensity and nature of your emotional response. Consider "disappointed", "upset", or "appalled" based on context.

Common error

Avoid using "with" after "dismayed". The correct preposition is "by". Using "with" can sound unnatural and detract from your writing's clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be dismayed with" functions as an adjective phrase expressing a feeling of disappointment or shock. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the grammatically correct form is "be dismayed by".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be dismayed with" can be found in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "be dismayed by". The phrase aims to express disappointment or shock but is infrequent. It appears in contexts like news and academia, but its non-standard usage detracts from its overall authority and clarity. Therefore, it's best to use "be dismayed by" or alternatives like "be disappointed with" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be disappointed with

Replaces "dismayed" with a more common synonym, maintaining the same grammatical structure.

be upset about

Shifts the focus to emotional upset rather than dismay, using "about" instead of "with".

be displeased with

Uses a more formal synonym for "dismayed", keeping the "with" preposition.

feel discouraged by

Emphasizes the feeling of discouragement caused by something.

be frustrated with

Highlights the frustration resulting from a situation.

be let down by

Focuses on the feeling of being let down or disappointed.

be appalled by

Conveys a stronger sense of shock and disgust.

take a dim view of

Expresses disapproval or disagreement in an idiomatic way.

be concerned about

Indicates worry or concern regarding a matter.

be disapproving of

Directly expresses disapproval of something.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "be dismayed with"?

No, the grammatically correct phrasing is "be dismayed by". While some instances of "be dismayed with" can be found, it's not considered standard English.

What's the difference between "be dismayed by" and "be disappointed by"?

While both express negative feelings, "dismayed" suggests a stronger sense of shock or alarm than "be disappointed by". "Dismayed" often implies a loss of confidence or a feeling of being unsettled.

Are there any situations where "be dismayed with" might be acceptable?

While not standard, in some informal contexts, "be dismayed with" might be understood. However, it is generally advisable to use the correct form, "be dismayed by", to avoid any confusion.

What are some alternatives to "be dismayed by" that convey a similar meaning?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "be upset by", "be appalled by", or "be discouraged by" to express similar feelings of disappointment or shock.