as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowl over
We were completely bowled over, just in total disbelief.
—
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Place the butter, molasses, honey, ginger, and water in a large bowl, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is warm and well combined.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025
Swiss meringues are made whipping egg whites and sugar together with the bowl over boiling water until the sugar is dissolved and then whipped again.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This Nix lowered his shoulder on one carry and bowled over Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Place the butter, molasses, honey, ginger, and water in a large bowl, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is warm and well combined.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025
Swiss meringues are made whipping egg whites and sugar together with the bowl over boiling water until the sugar is dissolved and then whipped again.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This Nix lowered his shoulder on one carry and bowled over Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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But no one was surprised by the play in the Panthers’ locker room, even after Scott’s struggles in 2024.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While each deposit may seem small, this money can snowball over time and surprise you.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
-
An artist who never fails to amaze me.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Others were stunned by individual line items.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nix’s season-ending injury and the subsequent news that Stidham would be starting in the AFC Championship shocked the NFL world.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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The filing brings to an end an unusual saga that shocked Georgia’s political world after cameras captured Durand enter the PSC hearing room during a recess before taking the booklet from the commission’s downtown Atlanta offices.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The exchange startled Loftus, who this month shared the correspondence with the Orlando Sentinel.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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YouTube’s growth as a competitor to traditional television has startled the industry in recent years.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Royals lost 106 games in his first season but astonished the baseball world by making the playoffs in 2024.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
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Researchers studying the carcasses of bats in a cave system were astonished to find evidence that common rats have developed a method of catching and eating bats mid-flight—something previously unknown to science.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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