as in astonishment
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
upon hearing the unexpected news, she just sat there in total stupefaction
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Recent Examples of stupefaction
And stupefaction of the far right.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Does freeing oneself from stupefaction involve confronting a terrifying reality, or abandoning it?
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
At one point, the fear that squeezed my stomach tighter and tighter gave way to stupefaction.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Advertisement The depth of my stupefaction is at the center of a debate playing out on social media, prompted by what seemed to be a definitive ruling on the matter from ketchup giant Heinz.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 July 2023
So here’s a handy guide to stick it to your co-conversants and have their heads nodding at your bon mots in sublime stupefaction.
—Andy Kessler, WSJ, 13 June 2021
As usual, however, TIME's selection has stirred up disagreement/bemusement/stupefaction.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2010
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Does freeing oneself from stupefaction involve confronting a terrifying reality, or abandoning it?
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
At one point, the fear that squeezed my stomach tighter and tighter gave way to stupefaction.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Advertisement The depth of my stupefaction is at the center of a debate playing out on social media, prompted by what seemed to be a definitive ruling on the matter from ketchup giant Heinz.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 July 2023
So here’s a handy guide to stick it to your co-conversants and have their heads nodding at your bon mots in sublime stupefaction.
—Andy Kessler, WSJ, 13 June 2021
As usual, however, TIME's selection has stirred up disagreement/bemusement/stupefaction.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupefaction
Noun
-
Whispers ripple in astonishment, and nods of approval are seen throughout the audience.—
Zoe Bahjat,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
To his astonishment, the country’s Central Statistics Office had dropped price tracking of the nation’s most popular beer in 2011.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There was 8-year-old Landyn Kelly from Henderson, Nevada, rapping 40-foot putts toward the hole with 90-year-old Player watching with amazement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The book is a mostly light-hearted exploration of Bennett's relationship with the tournament, from growing up in England rooting for his local soccer heroes, to watching in amazement every four years as teams from all over the globe take the spotlight on the World Cup stage.—
Jeffrey Pierre,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
New Environment If your plant has gone through a significant change in its environment recently—colder or warmer temperatures, a sudden lack of humidity, a change in light levels or watering habits—the shock could cause leaf drop.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
That’s why most economists agree the oil price shock from the Iran war probably won’t end in a recession.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stupefaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupefaction. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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