dumbfound

verb

dumb·found | \ˌdəm-ˈfau̇nd,

ˈdəm-ˌ\

variants: or less commonly dumfound

Definition of dumbfound

transitive verb

: to confound (see confound sense 5) briefly and usually with astonishment were dumbfounded at what they saw

Other Words from dumbfound Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about dumbfound

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Choose the Right Synonym for dumbfound

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve. the persistent fever puzzled the doctor perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision. a behavior that perplexed her friends bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking. a bewildering number of possibilities distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests. distracted by personal problems nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible. the remark left us utterly nonplussed confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement. the tragic news confounded us all dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound. was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Examples of dumbfound in a Sentence

the surprise ending will dumbfound even the most seasoned mystery reader

Recent Examples on the Web

One county technician, dumbfounded by the whoosh of code rocketing across the screen, somberly took out his phone and began to film it. — Benjamin Wofford, Vox, "The midterms are already hacked. You just don’t know it yet.," 25 Oct. 2018 His blend of formidable strength and dribbling ability is simply unmatched, and as a result opposition players are dumbfounded when pitted against the veteran midfielder. — SI.com, "'Genius no?': How Mousa Dembele Has Become a Midfield Revelation This Term," 20 Feb. 2018 David Cutbirth, the long-time mayor of the nearby town of Monahans, is dumbfounded by it all. — David Wethe / Bloomberg, Time, "Why This Sand From Texas Is Suddenly Worth $80 a Ton," 10 July 2018 When Wardle has Bobby and David watch Perlman's interview on a laptop, the brothers are dumbfounded. — J.r. Jones, Chicago Reader, "Triplets ripped from family in a Nazi-like experiment, probed in Three Identical Strangers," 5 July 2018 The Brewers had shifted their infield to the left, leaving Martinez dumbfounded. — Jorge Castillo, chicagotribune.com, "Scott Boras says shifts are partly why Bryce Harper isn't enjoying a typical Harper season," 5 July 2018 My friend was dumbfounded by the coincidence, but Farquaad acted fast. — Emilia Petrarca, The Cut, "Lord Farquaad Is a Style Icon," 29 June 2018 But even the Stevenson men’s lacrosse coach was dumbfounded by the litany of season-ending ones that plagued his defense. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "Injuries forced Stevenson men’s lacrosse to be more conservative on defense," 21 June 2018 Behind a fastball that jumped 10 miles an hour from last season and a curveball that left teammates amazed and opposing batters dumbfounded, Delgado emerged as the Lions’ ace this spring and a premier pitcher in the county. — Kyle Stackpole, Howard County Times, "Marriotts Ridge junior Josh Olsufka captures baseball Player of the Year," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dumbfound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.