What does consternating mean?
'Consternating' is the present participle of the rare verb 'consternate', meaning to fill someone with sudden alarm, dismay, or bewilderment. When something is described as consternating, it provokes not merely surprise but a kind of stunned confusion — the reaction of people thrown off balance by unexpected and troubling news. The word derives from Latin roots meaning essentially to be struck as by a thunderbolt. In modern English it is used sparingly and in formal or literary registers; most writers reach instead for its noun relative 'consternation', as in 'the decision caused widespread consternation'. As an adjective-like participle it appears in phrases such as 'consternating news' or 'a consternating turn of events'. It should not be confused with the milder 'concerning', which signals mere worry. For those seeking a vivid, slightly elevated way to describe something genuinely shocking and disorienting, 'consternating' remains a precise and expressive choice.
verb (present participle of 'consternate')Causing sudden, alarming amazement or dismay that results in utter confusion; the act of shocking or dismaying someone.
- Present participle of 'consternate': causing sudden alarm, dismay, or confusion in someone.
"The company's consternating announcement that it would close without warning left employees stunned."
"The minister's consternating remarks about the economy sent markets into a brief panic."
"She found the consternating silence from headquarters more worrying than any official bad news."
It comes from the Latin for 'to thunder down' — literally being struck as if by a thunderbolt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consternating
'Consternating' traces back to the Latin verb 'consternare', formed from 'com-' (an intensive prefix) and 'sternere', meaning 'to spread out' or 'to strike down', as in flattening crops or felling with a thunderbolt. The sense evolved to describe being struck down mentally — overwhelmed with alarm and confusion. The word passed into English in the early seventeenth century alongside its noun 'consternation'. Cognates include the Italian 'costernare' and French 'consterner'.
Related word forms
How consternating is actually used
'Consternating' is relatively rare and formal compared to its noun form 'consternation', which is far more common. It carries a connotation of bewildered alarm rather than simple fear or surprise. The verb 'consternate' itself is uncommon; writers often prefer phrases like 'caused consternation'.
Easily confused with consternating
'Concerning' means relating to or causing mild worry, while 'consternating' implies a much stronger shock that leaves one confused or alarmed.