Consternation or agitation (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: DISMAY (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Consternation or agitation" with 6 letters is "DISMAY".Dismay refers to a sudden and complete loss of courage or resolution due to an unexpected event, causing feelings of shock, fear, or anxiety. It describes a state of being disturbed or alarmed, often when faced with something overwhelming or alarming, which disrupts one's sense of calm or control.
Why “Dismay” Fits
The clue asks for a word (6) meaning “consternation or agitation.” The answer, DISMAY, fits exactly:
- Consternation or agitation: “Dismay” is a common noun for a feeling of sudden, often painful distress, surprise, or confusion at something unexpected or unpleasant, which matches both “consternation” and “agitation” very closely.
- It captures that shocked, unsettled emotional reaction people have when faced with bad news or a worrying situation.
- Direct match: The word aligns perfectly with the clue’s enumeration (6) and is a standard dictionary synonym for alarm, consternation, or deep worry, making DISMAY a precise semantic fit.
“Dismay” is widely used in news, literature, and everyday speech:
- Origin and usage: In modern English, “dismay” describes strong feelings of disappointment, anxiety, or concern often mixed with surprise—“to the dismay of residents,” “she watched in dismay,” “their decision caused widespread dismay.” These uses sit right between quiet concern and outright panic, matching the clue’s sense of disturbance without suggesting full terror.
- Examples: Sentences like “He looked on in dismay as the plan fell apart,” or “The announcement was greeted with dismay” show it functioning as the emotional label for shared consternation or agitated worry about events.
In quick crosswords, clues like “Consternation or agitation (6)”:
- Point toward emotion nouns that sit in the alarm/concern range—typical options include “dismay,” “upset,” or “alarm,” but only DISMAY gives the exact intensity and nuance of consternation.
- The answer structure (6) strongly favours DISMAY over shorter candidates; “alarm” has only five letters and “upset” also has five, while DISMAY fills the six-letter slot and matches both parts of the definition.
- Once you think of a single word that covers shock, concern, and emotional disturbance in one, DISMAY stands out as the natural solution to “Consternation or agitation (6).”
