astonishing

adjective

as·​ton·​ish·​ing ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ How to pronounce astonishing (audio)
: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder : surprising
an astonishing discovery
astonishingly adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Furthermore, the fact the band hasn’t down-tuned or adjusted any of their songs for vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who still effortlessly sings each and every one of Iron Maiden’s songs is absolutely astonishing. Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 But an investigation resulted in an astonishing call from the other side of the world, which revealed that ‘The GPO Girl’ was, in fact, a 25-year-old Australian, who has created more than 100 false identities. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 June 2025 Researchers replicated the conditions of this astonishing journey in the lab and discovered a key tool the moths used to find their way: the starry night sky. Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025 On a gray soundstage in Maspeth on a Friday evening in October, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski are working out how to play what, for the HBO period drama The Gilded Age, amounts to an astonishing shift in power between siblings. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for astonishing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of astonishing was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Astonishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astonishing. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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