astonishing

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

Synonyms

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• stunning
• shocking

Examples of astonishing in a Sentence

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

Its share price has spiked an astonishing 365% year to date, including a 150% surge in just over a month. MP’s market cap has risen from just over $2 billion to $13 billion, entering large-cap territory—not bad for a company that brought in just $204 million in revenue last year. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025

Kirkpatrick’s final estimate is an astonishing $3.4 billion. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

In Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, the results were astonishing: in 2018, Democrats in Wisconsin won 53 percent of the vote but received only 36 of Wisconsin's 99 State Assembly seats. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

It’s made from the grape savagnin, and each vintage is aged for an astonishing six years in an oak cask. —Eleanor Aldridge, AFAR Media, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astonishing

• admonishing