disappointment

noun

dis·​ap·​point·​ment ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint-mənt How to pronounce disappointment (audio)
Synonyms of disappointmentnext
1
: the act or an instance of disappointing : the state or emotion of being disappointed
2
: one that disappoints
he's a disappointment to his parents

Synonyms of disappointment

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Examples of disappointment in a Sentence

She couldn't hide her disappointment. He's a disappointment to his parents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jackson's disappointment with the logger blockade and other labor demonstrations in the late 1990s further cemented his feeling that something had to change. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 But millennials and Gen Xers with great expectations for inheriting that wealth may be setting themselves up for great disappointment. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 Today’s message isn’t the first time Lloyd Webber has expressed his disappointment about the early closing. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026 And yet, more often than not, modern-day biopic films are disappointments, inert movies that fall into the same narrative traps, leaving audiences cold. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disappointment

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disappointment was in 1577

Phrases Containing disappointment

Rhymes for disappointment

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Browse Nearby Words

disappointing
disappointment
Disappointment, Cape
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Cite this Entry

“Disappointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disappointment. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

disappointment

noun
dis·​ap·​point·​ment ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint-mənt How to pronounce disappointment (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of disappointing : the state or emotion of being disappointed
2
: one that disappoints
the play was a disappointment

More from Merriam-Webster on disappointment

Nglish: Translation of disappointment for Spanish Speakers

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