disappointment
/ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Disappointment is the feeling you get when something is not as good as you hoped or expected. It can also mean a person, event, or thing that does not meet expectations.
- Her exam result was a big disappointment.
- The movie was a disappointment after all the reviews.
- I felt disappointment when the plan was cancelled.
Adinary Nuance
Disappointment is weaker and more specific than sadness. You feel disappointed when hope or expectation is not met, even if nothing bad happened. It is different from regret, which usually means you wish you had done something differently. It is also different from frustration, which focuses more on trouble or blockage.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Sự thất vọng
- Spanish
- decepción
- Chinese
- 失望
- Japanese
- 失望
- Korean
- 실망
Etymology
Disappointment came into English in the 16th century from French, based on the idea of being 'unappointed' or not having hopes met. The word has kept this sense of failed expectation.
Common phrases
a feeling of disappointmentdeep disappointmentto one's disappointmenta source of disappointment
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is disappointment a positive or negative word?
- It is usually negative. It describes an unhappy feeling when hopes are not met.
- What is the difference between disappointment and sadness?
- Sadness is broader. Disappointment happens when something does not meet your expectation.
- Can I use disappointment in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in essays, reports, and business writing.
- How do I use disappointment in a sentence?
- You can say, 'I felt disappointment,' or 'It was a disappointment.'