flabbergast

verb flab·ber·gast \ ˈfla-bər-ˌgast \

|Updated on: 27 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: flabbergast in a Sentence

Definition of flabbergast

flabbergasted; flabbergasting; flabbergasts

transitive verb

: to overwhelm with shock, surprise, or wonder : dumbfound

We were flabbergasted by the news that he had won the lottery.

—

flabbergastingly

play \ˈfla-bər-ˌga-stiŋ-lē\ adverb

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Examples of flabbergast in a Sentence

It flabbergasts me to see how many people still support them.
your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Recent Examples of flabbergast from the Web

Seeing Dracula flabbergasted makes for plenty of fun because Sandler has a way of making his voice sound both commanding and confused.

— rick bentley, chicagotribune.com, "'Hotel Transylvania 3' review: Monsters aboard the Love Boat," 12 July 2018
Seeing Dracula flabbergasted makes for plenty of fun because Sandler has a way of making his voice sound both commanding and confused.

— rick bentley, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ is a little short on zing," 12 July 2018
Here are all the major moments leading up to June’s flabbergasting choice.

— rena gross, Billboard, "'The Handmaid's Tale': Season 2, Episode 13 Recap: 19 Startling Moments in 'The Word'," 11 July 2018
Health officials and government representatives were flabbergasted in May when the U.S. delegation threatened trade measures in an effort to water down parts of the World Health Assembly resolution.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Why breastfeeding is best, despite that Trump administration uproar," 9 July 2018
The wife is flabbergasted at Emily’s lack of concern at her rapist keeling over dead, which goes to show how unnatural Gilead is.

— rena gross, Billboard, "14 Significant Moments From 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 2, Episode 10 'The Last Ceremony'," 20 June 2018
Reached this week, Barwig said she was flabbergasted that Obrecht's name was on it.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "His namesake bridge cost $2M but carries only hikers and bikers," 1 June 2018
For three such respected DOJ attorneys to do so simultaneously—just hours before a major filing, and without replacement by any other career lawyers other than a rookie—is simply flabbergasting.

— CNN, "DOJ attorney resigns after Justice stops defending key Obamacare provisions," 12 June 2018
Some people who live downstream are flabbergasted that the city would allow it after Clear Creek swallowed sections of town, with about 2,400 homes taking on damage citywide.

— mark collette, Houston Chronicle, "After Hurricane Harvey, Friendswood residents shocked by plan to build shopping center in floodway," 1 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of flabbergast

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1772

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

flabbergast Synonyms

Synonyms

amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise (also surprize);

Phrases

knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise;

Synonym Discussion of flabbergast

surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.