flash of disappointment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flash of disappointment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and brief feeling of disappointment that someone experiences in response to a situation. Example: "When she realized she had missed the deadline, a flash of disappointment crossed her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Your you-ness begets only a flash of disappointment.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's this same sunny resolve mixed with flashes of disappointment that set Ms. Mol's "Shape of Things" performance apart from the rest of the cast.

The New York Times

For a brief moment about a year ago, a flash of our Canadian passports was met with disappointment.

Huffington Post

Powerful stories of disappointment.

The New York Times - Books

Same ending of disappointment.

The New York Times

Plenty of disappointment.

The New York Times

Pretense of disappointment.

The New Yorker

She described the "air of disappointment" inside.

Independent

I saw a minefield of disappointment".

The New York Times

Years of disappointment and discouragement followed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There's certainly plenty of disappointment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flash of disappointment" to describe a sudden, brief feeling, often visible in facial expressions or reactions. It's most effective when highlighting a contrast with an otherwise positive or neutral situation.

Common error

Avoid using "flash of disappointment" for prolonged or intense feelings. For longer lasting sadness, consider alternatives like "sense of disillusionment" or "profound sadness".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flash of disappointment" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a sudden and brief feeling. Examples show it used to depict immediate emotional responses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flash of disappointment" effectively captures a fleeting moment of sadness or disillusionment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in a variety of contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, this expression serves to highlight sudden, brief emotional responses. When aiming for similar expressions, "moment of dismay" or "brief pang of regret" provide suitable alternatives, adjusting the nuance slightly. Remember to reserve "flash of disappointment" for genuinely transient feelings, opting for alternatives when describing prolonged sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moment of dismay

Replaces "flash" with "moment", emphasizing the brief duration of the feeling of disappointment and replacing disappointment with dismay.

brief pang of regret

Focuses on the feeling of regret, which can be closely associated with disappointment. Replaces "flash" with "pang" and "disappointment" with "regret".

fleeting feeling of letdown

Emphasizes the transient nature of the emotion. Replacing "flash of disappointment" with "fleeting feeling of letdown".

hint of sadness

Softens the intensity of the feeling, suggesting a more subtle and subdued emotional response and replacing "flash of disappointment" with "hint of sadness".

shade of disillusionment

Highlights the aspect of disillusionment, implying a loss of faith or idealism, replacing "flash of disappointment" with "shade of disillusionment".

trace of discouragement

Similar to sadness or letdown, but with a focus on lost motivation and replacing "flash of disappointment" with "trace of discouragement".

wave of disillusion

Wave suggests a slightly stronger, yet still passing, feeling and replacing "flash of disappointment" with "wave of disillusion".

pang of dissatisfaction

Using the word "dissatisfaction" describes a sense of unhappiness, not quite as strong as complete disappointment and replacing "flash of disappointment" with "pang of dissatisfaction".

tinge of displeasure

Indicates a mild feeling of unhappiness or disapproval. Replacing "flash of disappointment" with "tinge of displeasure".

whiff of melancholy

This alternative refers to a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. Replacing "flash of disappointment" with "whiff of melancholy".

FAQs

How can I use "flash of disappointment" in a sentence?

You can use "flash of disappointment" to describe a brief and sudden feeling of disappointment, like "A "flash of disappointment" crossed her face when she heard the news".

What's a synonym for "flash of disappointment"?

Alternatives to "flash of disappointment" include "moment of dismay", "brief pang of regret", or "fleeting feeling of letdown".

Is it appropriate to use "flash of disappointment" in formal writing?

Yes, "flash of disappointment" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing reactions or subtle emotional cues in a narrative or report.

What's the difference between "flash of disappointment" and "sense of disappointment"?

A ""flash of disappointment"" is a brief, immediate reaction, while a "sense of disappointment" implies a more prolonged or pervasive feeling.