astonished 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈstä-nisht How to pronounce astonished (audio)
Definition of astonishednext
1
as in amazed
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise was astonished at seeing a cow wandering down Main Street

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wondering
filled with amazement or wonder grandparents astonished at how much their grandchildren had grown in the past year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

astonished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of astonish
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of astonished
Adjective
One that draws more approving thumbs-ups, creates more astonished grins, or pulls more phones from pockets for impromptu photographs and video—especially in stunning Verde Ermes metallic paint. — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026 Live, the 11-year-old actor shared his astonished reaction to getting the note. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
The documentary, which astonished critics at its surprise world premiere Sunday night at the Telluride Film Festival, could upend how the public sees her. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026 The judge for Lam's initial court appearance in Miami sounded astonished by a prosecutor's summary of his lavish spending. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for astonished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonished
  1. amazed
  2. surprised
  3. stunned
  4. shocked
  5. bewildered
  6. startled
  7. horrified
Adjective
  • Historian George is still amazed at the resilience of the neighborhood.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
  • My mom was amazed with the smoothness the formula provided without settling into fine lines.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of amazed
Adjective
  • Crafting the ‘nudge’ As an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University, Carleton spent two summers working in a Johns Hopkins prostate cancer lab and was surprised to see surgeons making a point to attend the department’s journal club.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Vence, France The smallest cathedral in France is already fairly unassuming, but those who don’t know to look might be surprised to find a Chagall mosaic, Moses Saved from the Waters, tucked away in a corner of the church.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprised
Verb
  • Two weeks later, back in Amsterdam, he was stunned to see another patient with strong similarities.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has become emotional when talking about Jones’ condition, stunned that a former high school football and basketball star was in need of life-saving procedures in such a short amount of time.
    — PJ Green October 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • My conversations and research left me much less shocked at that statistic that had sent chills down my spine a few weeks prior.
    — Luba Kassova, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Katlar Parchman, 19, appeared shocked to be in the defendant's chair on Saturday.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • But Iñárritu’s caricatures become people in a way Kubrick’s don’t; as the bewildered President, for example, John Goodman is simultaneously grounded and theatrical in his presentation, recalling his best work with the Coen brothers.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Five o’clock Saturday, the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is fist-pumping a half-bewildered but fully enthused home crowd.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • Gomez, 67, recalled, watching as responding officers pulled a horrified boy from the car.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Greg O'Neill, 63, was swimming at Sorrento Beach in the northern suburbs of Perth in Western Australia on Friday when the attack happened in front of horrified beachgoers.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrified

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Cite this Entry

“Astonished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonished. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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