What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Faint vs Dismay - What's the difference?

faint | dismay |

As nouns the difference between faint and dismay

is that faint is the act of fainting while dismay is a sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.

As verbs the difference between faint and dismay

is that faint is to lose consciousness caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions) while dismay is to disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive of firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.

As an adjective faint

is lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

faint

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
  • Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed.
    • "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Robert Burns - To Dr. Blackjack.
  • Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
  • Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.
  • * Sir J. Davies
    • the faint prosecution of the war
  • * 2005 , .
    • do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean?

    Derived terms

    * damn with faint praise

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of fainting.
  • (rare) The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).
  • * Bible, Mark viii. 8
    • If I send them away fasting they will faint by the way.
  • * Guardian
    • Hearing the honour intended her, she fainted away.
  • To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xxiv. 10
    • If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
  • To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

    Synonyms

    * pass out * queal * swoon

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    dismay

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.
  • Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive of firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.
  • * Bible, Josh. i. 9
    • Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed .
  • * Fairfax
    • What words be these? What fears do you dismay ?
  • To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
  • * Spenser
    • Do not dismay yourself for this.
  • To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.
  • * 1592 , , III. iii. 1:
    • Dismay not, princes, at this accident,