Synonyms of astonish

astonish

verb

ə-ˈstä-nish 

as in to amaze

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amaze
• surprise
• stun
• shock
• startle
• astound
• dumbfound
• stupefy
• flabbergast
• rock
• bewilder
• perplex
• take by surprise
• take aback
• thunderstrike
• befuddle
• bowl over
• disconcert
• confuse
• floor
• nonplus
• discomfit
• confound
• shake up
• dismay
• daze
• blindside
• blow away
• muddle
• jar
• knock for a loop

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb astonish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of astonish are amaze, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When is amaze a more appropriate choice than astonish?

While the synonyms amaze and astonish are close in meaning, amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is it sensible to use astound instead of astonish?

While in some cases nearly identical to astonish, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to astonish?

In some situations, the words flabbergast and astonish are roughly equivalent. However, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

In what contexts can surprise take the place of astonish?

The meanings of surprise and astonish largely overlap; however, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of astonish

The image of homes going back in where others have repeatedly washed away astonished Abram, whose team helped relocate past residents of the park. — Ren Larson, ProPublica, 2 Sep. 2026

The heated rhetoric has infuriated and astonished most Canadians; in a recent poll, seventy-six per cent supported the decision of the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to walk away from trade talks with Washington. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Booming demand Anthropic’s growth has been astonishing even by Silicon Valley standards. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026

Taken during Yeltsin’s trip to America months before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, the photos show the former Russian president astonished by the variety of frozen foods at Randall’s supermarket in Houston. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026