consternation

noun

con·​ster·​na·​tion ˌkän(t)-stər-ˈnā-shən 

: amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion

the two … stared at each other in consternation, and neither knew what to do

—Pearl Buck

Did you know?

If you’ve ever been flummoxed, befuddled, or even fuddled, you know a thing or two about consternation—but perhaps not all of it. Consternation and confusion are not synonymous, though it’s understandable that they are sometimes confused. Consternation refers not to confusion, but to a feeling of amazement or dismay that can lead to confusion, or otherwise hinder or stop someone in their tracks. And much like dismay, consternation is often used in constructions starting with “much to,” as in “much to their consternation, their teacher announced a pop quiz as soon as class started.” People also often “express” or “show” their consternation in various ways, whether with furrowed brow, mouth agog, or assorted mumblings and grumblings—visual and audible clues that they are working out just what to do next after being consternated.

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

Alexander swore a nervous curse, and May stared at him, a look of consternation on her face, reaching for her father with her tiny hand. —Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

Vanquish's looks are stylishly different than the other Astons in the stable, with that back bit the topic of much consternation at a cocktail hour after our test drive. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The changing nature of Amazon’s culture has been a growing topic of consternation at the company. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024

What those achievements should be is the subject of much consternation. —Mick Krever, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

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

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Kids Definition

consternation

noun

con·​ster·​na·​tion ˌkän(t)-stər-ˈnā-shən 

: amazement or dismay that makes one feel helpless or confused