dazzle

verb

daz·​zle ˈda-zəl 

dazzled; dazzling ˈdaz-liŋ 

ˈda-zə-liŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to lose clear vision especially from looking at bright light

2

a

: to shine brilliantly

… the woods dazzled whitely …

—Truman Capote

b

: to arouse admiration by an impressive display

She dazzles in her live concerts.

transitive verb

1

: to overpower with light

was dazzled by the camera flash

2

: to impress deeply, overpower, or confound with brilliance

dazzled us with her wit

dazzle noun

dazzler

ˈda-z(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• blind
• stun

Examples of dazzle in a Sentence

Elvis always dazzled his audiences.

Visitors were dazzled by the mansion's ornate rooms.

She truly dazzles in her live concerts.

Recent Examples on the Web

That was the night Kobe Bryant dazzled with 58 points, and yet the Charlotte Bobcats still emerged with a 133-124 victory in triple-overtime. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025

Continue to Fayetteville, aka Razorback Country, where the University of Arkansas campus dazzles in autumn with hundreds of sugar maples. —AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025

Robinson didn’t dazzle, but his 31-yard return late in the third quarter was the team’s second-longest kickoff return of the season after Moore’s 38-yard return in Week 5. —Matt Barrows, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025

Peter Boyle dazzles as the singing, destructive and outgoing Monster. —The Know, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of daze

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dazzle

• razzle-dazzle

Kids Definition

dazzle

verb

daz·​zle ˈdaz-əl 

dazzled; dazzling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to overpower with light

the desert sunlight dazzled us

2

: to impress greatly or confuse with brilliance

dazzled the crowds with fiery speeches

dazzle noun

dazzler

-(ə-)lər 

noun

dazzlingly

-(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb