astonishing

1 of 2

adjective

as·​ton·​ish·​ing ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ 

: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder : surprising

an astonishing discovery

astonishingly

ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ-lē 

adverb

astonishing

2 of 2

present participle of astonish

Synonyms of astonishing

Adjective

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• stunning
• shocking

Examples of astonishing in a Sentence

Adjective

He showed an astonishing lack of concern for others.

The truck can hold an astonishing amount of stuff.

She gave an astonishing performance in her first film.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The power Whitney expressed was more abstract than Beyoncé’s heavy-handed, and still astonishing, Super Bowl halftime performance in 2016, in which the artist stormed the field with a battalion of women dressed as Black Panthers. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

One such outburst took place in 1933, when observers in Europe watched an astonishing 500 shooting stars streak across the sky each minute. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The latter’s spread in Look Magazine (displayed for crowds at the 1959 American National Exhibition in Moscow) showcases a Roomba-like vacuum and other astonishing appliances that seem to work by themselves. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

What is astonishing—politically, morally, strategically—is that Netanyahu has any chance at all. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astonishing

• admonishing