in disappointment

USAGE SUMMARY

"in disappointment" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It is used to express the feeling of being let down or unfulfilled. For example: "He looked around the empty room in disappointment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Writing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some efforts ended in disappointment.

The New York Times - Arts

She fell to the snow in disappointment.

The New York Times - Sports

"Are you nuts?" Grossnose wailed in disappointment.

The New Yorker

She skied off, head down in disappointment.

The New York Times - Sports

Uniting them in disappointment, that is.

The New York Times - Sports

A day drenched in disappointment.

The New York Times - Sports

The crowd roars in disappointment.

The Guardian - Sport

He just shook his head in disappointment.

The New Yorker

For Thorpe, it ended in disappointment.

The New York Times - Sports

The first time in anticipation, and the second in disappointment.

Independent

His family again left the courtroom in disappointment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in disappointment" to describe actions or states directly caused by feeling let down or unfulfilled. For example, "She sighed in disappointment after hearing the news."

Common error

Avoid using "at disappointment" or "on disappointment". The correct preposition to use with disappointment in this context is "in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in disappointment" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner in which an action is performed or a state is experienced. As seen in Ludwig, it indicates that the action is carried out with a feeling of being let down.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Sports

25%

General Writing

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in disappointment" is a prevalent prepositional phrase used to convey a sense of disillusionment or unmet expectations. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds frequent application across various domains, particularly in News & Media and Sports reporting. While the register is neutral, it is essential to use the correct preposition "in" rather than alternatives like "at" or "on". Related phrases such as "feeling disappointed" or "to my disappointment" can offer stylistic variations depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with disappointment

Focuses on the act of doing something while feeling disappointed.

feeling disappointed

Describes the emotional state of experiencing disappointment.

to my disappointment

Emphasizes the speaker's personal experience of disappointment.

much to my disappointment

Strengthens the emphasis on personal disappointment.

filled with disappointment

Suggests a state of being completely overwhelmed by disappointment.

out of disappointment

Indicates that disappointment is the reason for an action.

in disillusionment

Indicates a loss of faith or trust, leading to disappointment.

with disenchantment

Describes a feeling of being let down or having one's expectations unmet.

crestfallen

Single word alternative adjective of feeling disappointed.

disheartened

Single word alternative adjective of feeling less enthusiastic and hopeful.

FAQs

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

Use "in disappointment" to describe an action or state of being that is caused by feeling let down. For example: "He shook his head "in disappointment" after the game."

What's a more formal alternative to "in disappointment"?

More formal alternatives include phrases such as "with disillusionment" or "to one's chagrin". These convey a similar meaning but are suitable for more formal contexts.

Which is correct, "in disappointment" or "with disappointment"?

While both can be used, "in disappointment" is generally more common when describing a direct reaction to something. "With disappointment" often describes the manner in which something is done. For example, you might say, "He sighed "in disappointment"" or "He accepted the news "with disappointment"".

What can I say instead of "in disappointment"?

You can use alternatives like "feeling disappointed", "to my disappointment", or simply replace it with an adjective like "crestfallen" or "disheartened" depending on the context.