consternation
- A feeling of anxiety, dismay, or shocked distress, typically caused by something unexpected.
In a sentence
- The sudden cancellation of the festival caused consternation among vendors who had already spent thousands on supplies.
- To the consternation of his colleagues, the CEO announced his resignation without warning.
Usage note. Consternation implies a mix of surprise and worry rather than pure fear; it's often used with 'to the consternation of,' making the affected party the object of a prepositional phrase.
Where it comes from
English consternation · entered English early 17th c.
From Latin 'consternatio,' meaning 'dismay or confusion,' derived from 'consternare,' meaning 'to terrify or prostrate,' possibly related to 'sternere,' meaning 'to throw down or overthrow.' It entered English in the early 17th century.