Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To cause consternation in.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To throw into confusion; dismay; terrify.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb to cause to be confused; confuse emotionally; to dismay.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To cause consternation
  • verb To dismay

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb fill with anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin cōnsternāre, cōnsternāt- : com-, intensive pref.; see com– + sternere, to throw down; see ster- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • Thus there could be some back and fill in consumer sell-through the next month that will further consternate and confuse as to the underling, still upward trend.

    Intel's In A Sweet Spot 2010

  • She never let them bluff her or consternate her or put her off balance.

    Don't Give Up 2006

  • Here's another tetrapodomorph fish to consternate the creationists.

    The Panda's Thumb: October 2006 Archives 2006

  • Here's another tetrapodomorph fish to consternate the creationists.

    Gogonasus andrewsae - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • But he could not pass up the opportunity to consternate Aerent.

    beneath an opal moon Lustbader, Eric 1980

  • My hope is that I can get my tree way high up in the search results for the TSLA, just to consternate them.

    Nashville Scene 2010

  • We can co-opt Gregg toward the center, get a Democrat put in place by Gov Lynch, and completely consternate the repugnant right wing Manchester Union Leader's idiot publisher Joe McQuaid!

    Top Stories - Google News 2009

  • It's easy to see how much of an impact she's made on my life in so short a time, and I can't thank her enough for being one of my best friends, albeit being her "gay best friend only straight" does consternate me a bit from time to time.

    It's true! It's true! 2009

  • That photograph captures a singular mix of defiance and passion that Sharp marshaled over the years to engage and consternate those around him.

    unknown title 2009

  • The dissolution of the Hollywood Production Code in favor of the more lenient MPAA Rating system led to an upping of the ante in regards what was required of a film to consternate the modern, habituated movie buff and, in this climate, a straightforward thriller such as

    Boise Weekly - News, Opinion, Music, Events, Dining - Boise, Idaho 2008

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