To feel dismayed means to feel upset and discouraged when something goes wrong or turns out worse than you hoped. It's that sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize your science project fell apart the night before it's due, or when you open your test and see it's much harder than you expected.

Dismay combines disappointment with a sense of worry or concern about what happens next. If you're simply sad your team lost a game, that's disappointment. But if you're dismayed by the loss, you're also troubled about what it means: maybe your team won't make the playoffs, or maybe you're worried about how your teammates will react.

You might feel dismayed when plans fall through at the last minute, when a friend unexpectedly moves away, or when you discover you misunderstood an important assignment. The word suggests both an emotional reaction (feeling let down) and uncertainty about how to move forward.

Parents might look dismayed when they see the mess in your room. A teacher might be dismayed to discover students didn't understand the lesson. The feeling usually passes once you figure out your next steps, but in that moment, dismay can make you feel stuck between what you hoped would happen and the disappointing reality you're facing.