flabbergast

verb flab·ber·gast \ ˈfla-bər-ˌgast \

|Updated on: 13 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

See flabbergast defined for English-language learners

See flabbergast defined for kids

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

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
Apply Cancel Default Show Advanced Settings Opacity : LIVE 00:00 / 00:00 LIVE CC KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff The woman seems flabbergasted as to who might have left the bloody and shocking surprise.

— josh magness, miamiherald, "Woman found a bloody goat head on her car — and then a picture of herself, police say," 30 May 2018
The richness of the red lets the woman hold her own visually with not just the canyon’s delicate pastels but even its flabbergasting geology.

— mark feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "At Cambridge Public Library, photos in color, in the stacks, in Cambridge," 8 May 2018
In 2012 after the Newtown shooting, angry voters turned their immediate attention to Congress and were flabbergasted when Congress did nothing.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "This is America, 2018. Government is dead. Corporations rule. Their 'electorate' is consumers | Will Bunch," 4 Mar. 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.