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 of astonishing

• 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

Estimates have put Toronto’s raccoon population at an absolute minimum of 100,000 and as many as 640,000—an astonishing ratio of up to one raccoon for every four people who live here. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Railway bridges are often judged by their height or engineering complexity, but some stand out simply because of their astonishing length. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Your brain must select meanings, retrieve words, organize sounds and coordinate dozens of muscles with astonishing precision. — Karen Stollznow, The Conversation, 14 July 2026

On Sunday, Salt Lake City recorded a new all-time high temperature record of 108 degrees, while parts of eastern Montana hit an astonishing 115 degrees. — Sean MacAday 13, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astonishing

• admonishing