dismayed about

USAGE SUMMARY

"dismayed about" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a feeling of disappointment or distress about something. Example: The students were dismayed about the cancelation of the school trip.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

His case is likely to speed up reforms to the House of Lords, whose leader, Lord Hill, said on Tuesday that he was "completely dismayed" by the bad publicity Lord Hanningfield has generated – "dismayed about the behaviour, and dismayed about the shadow it casts over the whole House".

Independent

So, as he got older, he became dismayed about slavery and his own complicity.

University of Pennsylvania

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has said he is "deeply dismayed" about the executions.

Independent

Many businesses are dismayed about the tougher federal and state scrutiny.

The New York Times

REBOUNDS If Brook Lopez was dismayed about being left off the All-Star team, he was diplomatic about it.

The New York Times - Sports

Other relatives of Marchella are dismayed about what happened to her. "It's wrong," the child's great-aunt, Levonnia Parnell, said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

He also talked, in a soft and dismayed voice, about Ravi's arrest and vilification: "I'm reading about him being a jerk, being a bully, being a homophobe, but as a real person who I've seen growing up — I can't relate to any of these statements".

The New Yorker

What dismayed Adorno about the project in 1935 was Benjamin's faith that a mere assemblage of objects could speak for itself.

The Guardian - Books

I recently judged a short story competition run by a charity, and what dismayed me about the entries was they were all superficially bright and competent, correctly spelled and punctuated, and all absolutely lifeless.

The Guardian - Books

I was dismayed to read about the bipartisan compromise that Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham described.

The New York Times

"I was shocked and dismayed to hear about the treatment Tony Kushner received at the hands of the CUNY board of trustees," he said in a statement.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dismayed about" to express disappointment or concern regarding a specific event or situation. Ensure that the subject experiencing dismay is clearly identified and the object of their dismay is clearly articulated. For example: "The residents were dismayed about the proposed construction project."

Common error

While "dismayed about" is acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "concerned regarding" or "disappointed by" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dismayed about" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by a preposition. It modifies a noun or pronoun to express a feeling of disappointment or distress concerning a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dismayed about" is a common and grammatically correct way to express disappointment or concern. According to Ludwig AI, it's a valid English phrase suitable for various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, followed by academic and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the subject and object of dismay are clearly defined. While acceptable in many situations, consider more formal alternatives like "concerned regarding" in highly professional or academic settings. Alternatives like "upset about", "frustrated about", and "disappointed about" can offer nuanced variations of the sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappointed about

Emphasizes the feeling of sadness or displeasure that results from unmet expectations.

upset about

Uses a more general term for negative emotion instead of specific disappointment.

concerned about

Highlights a feeling of worry or unease regarding a particular situation or issue.

frustrated about

Indicates a feeling of annoyance and impatience due to an obstacle or unmet expectation.

saddened by

Focuses on the feeling of sorrow or unhappiness caused by something.

distressed by

Implies a stronger sense of anxiety and suffering than simple disappointment.

disturbed by

Suggests a feeling of unease or unsettlement.

appalled by

Indicates a feeling of shock and disgust.

aghast at

Expresses a feeling of great horror or shock.

disheartened by

Highlights a loss of enthusiasm and hope.

FAQs

How can I use "dismayed about" in a sentence?

Use "dismayed about" to express disappointment or concern regarding something. For example, "The community was "dismayed about" the increase in local crime rates."

What are some alternatives to "dismayed about"?

You can use alternatives such as "upset about", "frustrated about", or "disappointed about", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "dismayed about" or "dismayed by"?

"Dismayed about" and "dismayed by" are both grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. However, "dismayed about" is slightly more common in contemporary usage.

What's the difference between "dismayed about" and "concerned about"?

"Dismayed about" expresses a stronger feeling of disappointment or shock, while "concerned about" indicates worry or unease. Use "dismayed about" when the situation evokes strong disappointment, and "concerned about" when it evokes worry.