astonishing

1 of 2

adjective

as·​ton·​ish·​ing ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ 

: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder : surprising

an astonishing discovery

astonishingly

ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ-lē 

adverb

astonishing

2 of 2

present participle of astonish

Synonyms of astonishing

Adjective

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• stunning
• shocking

Examples of astonishing in a Sentence

Adjective

He showed an astonishing lack of concern for others.

The truck can hold an astonishing amount of stuff.

She gave an astonishing performance in her first film.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Summary Chinese robotics firm Unitree saw its stock surge an astonishing 629% on its Shanghai STAR Market debut, closing up 487%. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Tommy Lee plays ferociously and remains technically astonishing. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026

Scheffler ended nearly seven months without winning, a season that has been marked by astonishing consistency but only one trophy to show for it from his season opener at The American Express in the California desert. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

That comparison makes all the more astonishing what Rosenwald was able to accomplish with his paltry few billion. — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astonishing

• admonishing