crestfallen
Say it: KREST-faw-lun /ˈkrɛstfɔlən/ · adjective
What “crestfallen” means
Suddenly disappointed, with your happiness and confidence gone.
More precisely: Suddenly disappointed and dispirited.
Example: “She looked crestfallen when the trip was cancelled.”
When to use it
Use it when someone's hopeful expression suddenly falls after bad news. It is vivid and slightly more literary than disappointed.
Memory trick
Picture a proud bird's crest drooping: your lifted head falls when hope disappears.
Similar words
dismayed, deflated, downhearted
Quick check
You arrive excited for a concert, then learn it has just been cancelled. Your smile vanishes. How do you look?
crestfallen or resentful?
Show the answer
crestfallen
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