dazzle

1 of 2

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

dazzler

2 of 2

noun

daz·​zler ˈda-z(ə-)lər 

plural -s

: one that dazzles

that dress is a dazzler

Synonyms of dazzle

Verb

• blind
• stun

Examples of dazzle in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The Crusaders are coming off their huge 35-24 win over Mount Carmel as freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb continues to dazzle. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

It’s not limited to zebras; certain snakes and lizards may use motion dazzle, too. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026

Taylor Swift brought dazzling footwear to the 2026 MTV VMAs with a pair of Le Silla sandals, which complemented her Tamara Ralph gown. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026

The dancer dazzled the judges and left the audience’s jaws on the ground with his captivating, Matrix-like audition. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of daze

First Known Use

Verb

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