staggering

adjective

stag·ger·ing | \ ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ

How to pronounce staggering (audio)

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Definition of staggering

: so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming a staggering feat staggering medical bills

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Examples of staggering in a Sentence

The storm caused a staggering amount of damage. the staggering scope of the new construction on campus

Recent Examples on the Web Among the most staggering data points: Three out of every 10 Dallas County homes don’t have access to the 2010 standard of broadband. — Dallas News, "Can Dallas County help close the digital divide? Commissioner J.J. Koch thinks so.," 3 May 2021 In 2017, the staggering deforestation forced environmental policymakers to recommend a de facto ban on charcoal export by ceasing to issue the permits required to produce charcoal for export legally. — Chikezie Omeje, The New Republic, "Do You Know Where Your Grilling Charcoal Comes From?," 3 May 2021 Though the project collapsed in 48 hours, the fiasco has re-ignited 16 years of animosity directed at the United owners for overseeing what fans see as a staggering decline in the club’s standing. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, "Manchester United Fans Storm Old Trafford to Protest Super League, Ownership," 2 May 2021 Yesterday in India, for a staggering 400,000 cases, the Indian prime minister called the president, asked him to join an effort to lift patents on the vaccination so they can be produced. — CBS News, "Transcript: Ron Klain on "Face the Nation," May 2, 2021," 2 May 2021 The new Aryton line is named after the famed Brazilian racer, Ayrton Senna da Silva, who won a staggering 41 Formula 1 races and three world championships before his death in 1994. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, "Meet a New Trio of Superyachts Inspired by Formula 1 Champ Ayrton Senna da Silva," 30 Apr. 2021 Shame of my staggering ignorance and profound guilt for my complicity in the status quo precipitated sweeping changes. — Kyle Meyaard-schaap, CNN, "The key word missing from the climate movement," 30 Apr. 2021 Vanderbilt University and Northeastern University are among those staggering arrival times at the ceremony, so that students enter the venue in shifts, reducing the size of each gathering. — New York Times, "The Many Ways Colleges Are Handling Covid-Complicated Graduations," 30 Apr. 2021 But many researchers suspect tropical rainforests, with their staggering biodiversity, are the most likely cradle of dangerous new pathogens. — Daniel Grossman, Science | AAAS, "Scientists scour the Amazon for pathogens that could spark the next pandemic," 29 Apr. 2021

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

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Dictionary Entries near staggering

staggered stance

Statistics for staggering

Last Updated

5 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Staggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staggering. Accessed 9 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for staggering

staggering

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of staggering

: very large, shocking, or surprising

See the full definition for staggering in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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