consternation

noun

con·​ster·​na·​tion ˌkän(t)-stər-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce consternation (audio)
: amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion
the two … stared at each other in consternation, and neither knew what to doPearl Buck

Did you know?

Wonder what the seemingly dissimilar words prostrate ("stretched out with face on the ground"), stratum ("layer"), and stratus ("a low cloud form extending over a large area") have in common with consternation? They are all thought to share the Latin ancestor sternere, meaning "to spread" or "to strike or throw down." Much to our consternation, we cannot make that sentence definitive: while prostrate, stratum, and stratus are clearly the offspring of sternere, etymologists will only go so far as to say that consternation comes from Latin consternare—and that they have a strong suspicion that consternare is another descendent of sternere.

Examples of consternation in a Sentence

The fact that the exact depth was recorded on the bottles was the source of considerable consternation among the admirals presiding over the Navy inquiry last week. The depth an attack sub can reach is supposed to be classified …  . Karen Breslau et al., Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2001
In the grimy market-places where so-called friendly intelligence services do their trading, tip-offs, like money, are laundered in all sorts of ways …  . They can be blown up so as to cause consternation or tempered to encourage complacency. John le Carré, Granta 35, Spring 1991
The King was relaxing; his face had softened. Awful, to have to banish this hard-earned peace, burden him with a fresh worry. But better he should hear it from his loyalest baron, his own brother, than have the news blurted out to him by some idiot agent avid to cause a maximum of consternation. Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, 1990
The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue. Much to her parents' consternation, she had decided to not go to college.
Recent Examples on the Web This bipartisan pivot away from trade has caused consternation across Washington’s foreign policy establishment, which has long regarded trade deals as an important tool for building geopolitical coalitions. Peter E. Harrell, Foreign Affairs, 26 Feb. 2024 Anticipation for the coming season and TV ratings won’t dip an iota over consternation about NIL and the portal enabling the rich to get richer and assuring the haves have even more. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Stricklin insists the Gators are on track under Napier but also understands the consternation amid Gator Nation. Edgar Thompson, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2024 Kamala Harris factor Vice President Kamala Harris, who would step in if something happened to Biden, drew a mix of sympathy and consternation. Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024 But to the delight of fans and the consternation of rock critics, the fictional band became a real band that scored three chart-topping singles and four No. 1 albums, selling 75 million records worldwide. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 Students Striving To Write More Authentic Essays The Supreme Court’s ruling to end affirmative action has caused a great deal of consternation among people of color in the nation. Arush Chandna, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Still, Meadows’s murky status has been a source of consternation in Trump world. Robert Draper, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Maybe Apple will be a little less risk-averse going forward, especially since its $3,500 Apple Vision Pro headset has been released to both praise and a fair bit of consternation. Kyle Barr / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consternation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French, from Latin consternation-, consternatio, from consternare to throw into confusion, from com- + -sternare, probably from sternere to spread, strike down — more at strew

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consternation was in 1604

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Dictionary Entries Near consternation

Cite this Entry

“Consternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consternation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

consternation

noun
con·​ster·​na·​tion ˌkän(t)-stər-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce consternation (audio)
: amazement or dismay that makes one feel helpless or confused

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