staggering

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

Synonyms of staggering

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

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

After all the talk of the Celtics holding out for a huge package of players and picks, the smaller return was staggering. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Several contain both, almost all of them contain at least one scene of staggering violence. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

Overseas sales soared by a staggering 95%, helping to counter a 22% slide in the automaker’s domestic market. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 July 2026

That is likely the biggest increase in wealth for any sitting president while in office, and that staggering figure comes from the president’s multiple crypto ventures. — Riley Beggin, Washington Post, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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