staggering

1 of 2

adjective

stag·​ger·​ing ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ 

: so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming

a staggering feat

staggering medical bills

staggeringly adverb

staggering

2 of 2

present participle of stagger entry 1

Synonyms of staggering

Adjective

• astonishing
• amazing
• surprising
• wonderful
• miraculous
• incredible
• stunning
• sublime

Examples of staggering in a Sentence

Adjective

The storm caused a staggering amount of damage.

the staggering scope of the new construction on campus

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft alone invested a staggering $400 billion in 2025 – and that was just on data centers. — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026

That staggering amount would translate into annual interest payments topping $6 billion. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

The record closed out the 13-song set, which ended in a staggering high note from Spiro and a standing ovation from a stunned ACL audience. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for staggering

• swaggering

Kids Definition

staggering

adjective

stag·​ger·​ing

: so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming

a staggering achievement

staggering medical bills

staggeringly

ˈstag-(ə-)riŋ-lē

adverb