Thesaurus results for BOWL OVER

bowl over

verb

Definition of bowl over

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

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 bowl over The mixture is cooked in a double boiler (or in a stainless-steel bowl over a pot of simmering water) until thick, creating a custard-like consistency. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026 Place a medium heatproof bowl over the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 10 July 2026 So far, the league appears to be taking a slower path, rather than trying to bowl over players at the outset. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 25 June 2026 This is yet another example of how an excellent piece of literature could be bowled over by controversy. — Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bowl over

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over

Verb

Rådström, a Swede, was surprised by the layers of hierarchy at the German company and the sheer volume of decisions that crossed her desk as CEO.

— Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
That surprised some people inside UM because of Kadre’s friendship with John Miller, the president of Adidas North America.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of surprise

Verb

Perhaps what amazed me the most was the breadth and the depth to which a general American public seemed to be at a tipping point around the exorbitant cost of health care and how cavernous the gap is between the one percent and the 99 percent.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
But of the many falsehoods told by them, there was one which quite amazed me.

— Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of amaze

Verb

Speculation the two were romantically linked first surfaced in 2020, but by February 2021, Rodgers stunned fans by revealing he was engaged while accepting his third NFL MVP award.

— Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Lamont told reporters that he was stunned that Diamantis was able to slip through the cracks and flee to Greece.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of stun

Verb

Keith gained notoriety for his work with superstars like Beyonce, Cardi B, Drake and Travis Scott, and his death shocked the hip-hop community.

— Deena Zaru, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
The influx of immigrants shocked this small town Lockland had for decades been home to a small population of West Africans who’d come to Ohio in the 1990s because of political and racial oppression in Mauritania.

— Claire Galofaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of shock

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bowling over

bowl over

bowls

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“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bowl over

verb

Example Sentences

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