dismay
/dɪsˈmeɪ/noun
A sudden sinking of the spirits, when courage and confidence collapse in the face of trouble or danger.
Example sentences
- “To her dismay, the flight had already left when she reached the gate.”
- “The fans watched in dismay as their star player limped off the field.”
'To one's dismay' is the usual construction. Dismay mixes shock with discouragement; it is not simply sadness.