staggering

1 of 2

adjective

stag·​ger·​ing ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ 

: so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming

a staggering feat

staggering medical bills

staggeringly adverb

staggering

2 of 2

present participle of stagger entry 1

Synonyms of staggering

Adjective

• astonishing
• amazing
• surprising
• wonderful
• miraculous
• incredible
• stunning
• sublime

Examples of staggering in a Sentence

Adjective

The storm caused a staggering amount of damage.

the staggering scope of the new construction on campus

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

GuangYu utilized extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities to wrap the chassis in lightweight carbon-fiber panels to create a vehicle that delivers a staggering 370 hp per metric ton. — New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026

Long story short, the gold rush of the CBS years (MLB payrolls doubled between the start of the deal and the network’s final season) quickly gave way to a staggering depletion of resources. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2026

The exact number is disputed in different accounts, but that staggering amount is Stallone’s final offer in I Play Rocky. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026

The House Republican conference is set to see a major brain drain of intelligence and defense hawks following the staggering defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for staggering

• swaggering

Kids Definition

staggering

adjective

stag·​ger·​ing

: so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming

a staggering achievement

staggering medical bills

staggeringly

ˈstag-(ə-)riŋ-lē

adverb