Word
consternation
Phoneticscon·ster·na·tion
US/ˌkɑnstɝˈneɪʃən/
UK/kɒnstənˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion. You feel this when something unexpected and unpleasant happens.
n. a state of anxiety, dismay, or confusion, typically resulting from something unexpected. Often used to describe a collective reaction to a sudden change or event.
Examples
“The sudden news caused great consternation among the staff.”
“To the consternation of the local residents, the council decided to build a highway through the park.”
“The sudden collapse of the negotiations was met with consternation by international observers, who had expected a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict.”
Examples
simple
“The sudden news caused great consternation among the staff.”
contextual
“To the consternation of the local residents, the council decided to build a highway through the park.”
complex
“The sudden collapse of the negotiations was met with consternation by international observers, who had expected a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict.”
Usage
Often follows the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'to the consternation of') or is paired with verbs like 'cause' or 'express'.
Real-World Examples
“Critics on both sides of the aisle, however, met the unorthodox pledge with a rare bipartisan sentiment: consternation.” “In June, the justice department provoked consternation when it released a memo saying that states no longer have to provide community-based care for people with disabilities.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/consternation