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

Wong starred in, scripted, directed, and produced her own documentary about her travels, an astonishing feat at a time when Dorothy Arzner and Ida Lupino were two of the very few female directors in Hollywood. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Mackie debuted his signature style of lavish gowns, astonishing headpieces and dance-friendly designs in 1966 when he was enlisted by Gaynor to design the energetic singer-dancer’s costumes for her Las Vegas revue and subsequent television specials. — Maureen Lee Lenker, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Walsh and Carroll helped close the deal, and the league and the NFLPA combined to commit an astonishing $100 million in TV money to grassroots football, with a big boost for youth flag. — Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

The hybrid car is able to travel for an astonishing 644 miles on a full tank of gas. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astonishing

• admonishing