consternation
gb/kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/ us/kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
~ 27400
megdöbbenés
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
megdöbbenés
B2
Usage pattern:
consternation at [something]
There was widespread consternation when the company announced sudden layoffs.
Széles körű megdöbbenést váltott ki, amikor a vállalat hirtelen elbocsátásokat jelentett be.
To her consternation, the train left five minutes early and she missed it.
Nagy megdöbbenésére a vonat öt perccel korábban indult, és lekéste.
The teacher watched in consternation as the experiment went badly wrong.
His joke was met not with laughter but with visible consternation from the audience.
The new law caused consternation among small business owners.
Learner examples
There was consternation when the lights went out in the middle of the show.
Megdöbbenés támadt, amikor a műsor közepén kialudtak a fények.
To my consternation, my wallet was not in my bag.
Nagy megdöbbenésemre a pénztárcám nem volt a táskámban.
The news of the price increase filled the students with consternation.
Her parents looked at each other in consternation when they heard the plan.
The change in rules caused consternation among the players.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "consternation" with more common words like "concentration" or "determination" because they look similar, but the meanings are unrelated. Another mistake is to use it as a verb (*"It consternated me"*), which is incorrect in modern English; use structures like "to my consternation" or "I felt consternation" instead.
Meaning
sudden shocked worry and confusion
Collocations
to someone's consternation
|look of consternation
|cause consternation
|public consternation
|in consternation
Synonyms
dismay (Very close in meaning; often slightly broader and more common, not always as strongly tied to surprise.)
|
alarm (Emphasizes fear and danger more than confusion; can be less about being puzzled.)
|
bewilderment (Stresses confusion more and fear or worry less than consternation.)
Antonyms
reassurance (Removes worry and fear, the opposite emotional effect of consternation.)
|
calm (Describes a peaceful, unworried state, which contrasts with shocked worry and confusion.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong feeling of shock, worry, and confusion, usually when something bad or surprising happens suddenly.
A feeling of sudden, usually anxious shock and confusion, often caused by something unexpected or upsetting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
consternation
IPA
GB/kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/
US/kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - sterna - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sterna)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: consternation
- Plural: consternation
Word family
Advanced or less common
consternate
verb
Expressions
in consternation
1/ˈɪn kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
in a state of shocked worry
in a condition of feeling sudden shock, worry, and confusion.
Examples
- He stared at the broken window in consternation, unsure what to do next.
- The officials looked at one another in consternation as the system suddenly shut down.
to someone's consternation
1/tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz kˌɑnstɚnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
causing someone shocked dismay
used to say that something happens which makes a person suddenly feel strong shock, worry, and confusion.
Examples
- To my consternation, the doors were already locked when I arrived.
- Much to the neighbors' consternation, the party went on until three in the morning.
- To her parents' consternation, she decided to quit her stable job without another offer.