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\ ˈstən 
\
\stunned; stunning
Definition of stun
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow : daze
2 : to shock with noise
3 : to overcome especially with paralyzing astonishment or disbelief
stun
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Examples of stun in a Sentence
Verb
The angry criticism stunned them.
His old friends were stunned at his success.
She sat in stunned disbelief.
There was a stunned expression on her face.
weapons that can stun people temporarily
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Last year’s trial came after a judge in 2018 stunned the courtroom by throwing out a plea deal that would have sentenced Harris to six years in prison and Almena to nine.
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Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, "Life after Ghost Ship," 7 Feb. 2020 On December 14, 1979, a daring art heist left East Germany stunned.
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Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "Five Old Master Paintings Recovered 40 Years After German Heist," 21 Jan. 2020 When military advisers brought a menu of options to answer for the embassy vandalism, Trump stunned them by picking the killing of Soleimani.
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Karim Sadjadpour, Time, "Why the U.S. Assassination of Soleimani is a Windfall for Iran's Mullahs," 9 Jan. 2020 Tim wore a dark suit and tie, while Jane stunned in a black and white halter dress with floral accents and a small bow at the top.
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Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "Last Man Standing's Tim Allen Looked So in Love With His Wife at the Golden Globes," 6 Jan. 2020 Unless something stunning happens between now and April 23, the Bengals should take Burrow and go forward.
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Tim Bielik, cleveland, "NFL draft 2020 order set: Could former Ohio State players be the first three picks?," 3 Feb. 2020 Word that the opera singer now faces multiple charges for endangering law enforcement officers stunned people who know Roemhild.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Woman who breached Mar-a-Lago security refuses to face judge," 1 Feb. 2020 While watching from the Lakers’ bench during a game against the Warriors on April 12, 2013, Jamison was stunned when Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon and still sank two free throws to tie the score.
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Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Antawn Jamison’s Kobe Bryant memory: When both scored 51 in Warriors’ OT win," 28 Jan. 2020 Check out some of our favorites below: Billy Porter's red-carpet ensemble
Pose star Billy Porter showed up to the Grammys red carpet with a million crystals, stunning everyone with his sparkly blue jumpsuit and hat.
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Gabe Bergado, Teen Vogue, "Grammys 2020: Funniest Moments and Memes," 27 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun On a basic level of style, the writing stuns with its amateurish flatness.
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Los Angeles Times, "Review: ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ inspired a generation. Its follow-up? No chance," 4 Oct. 2019 Billy Porter stuns in a fabulous feathered look on the #GoldenGlobes red carpet.
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Sally Holmes, Marie Claire, "Billy Porter's Feather Train Is the Wedding Look of My Dreams," 5 Jan. 2020 Within minutes, the riot police arrived on motorbikes in a two-line formation, dismounted, and marched into the plaza throwing stun grenades and dispersing tear gas and pepper spray.
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Alice Driver, Longreads, "My Spoon, Your Bullet," 18 Dec. 2019 More:Tesla Cybertruck design stuns: 'Eccentric,' 'eye-popping' or 'weird' 'piece of junk'?
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Kevin Wheeler, USA TODAY, "Ford wants a rematch after Tesla's Cybertruck pulled an F-150. Musk says 'bring it on'," 26 Nov. 2019 Previously: Browns stun 49ers Intercept Young three times in 23-13 victory.
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Rich Exner, cleveland, "This 1993 Browns win over 49ers was one of Bernie Kosar’s last hurrahs as Cleveland QB: Browns Flashback," 1 Oct. 2019 Vittorio Zunino CelottoGetty Images Alessandro Michele of Gucci never fails to impress, stun, and even shock his guests during a runway show.
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Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "You Can Tune Into Gucci's Spring 2020 Show—Right Now," 22 Sep. 2019 Marches in the center of the city were also dispersed by riot police Saturday, and an 18-year-old high school student was critically injured when he was hit in the face with a stun grenade.
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Washington Post, "Colombia goes through fifth consecutive day of protests," 26 Nov. 2019 The deaths came hours after security forces cleared three bridges of protesters, using stun grenades and tear gas amid heavy clashes.
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SFChronicle.com, "Security forces in Iraq open fire on protesters, killing at least 6," 9 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stun.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for stun
stun
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of stun
: to surprise or upset (someone) very much
: to cause (someone) to suddenly become very confused, very dizzy, or unconscious
See the full definition for stun in the English Language Learners Dictionary
stun
verb\ ˈstən \
\stunned; stunning
Kids Definition of stun
1 : to make dizzy or senseless by or as if by a blow
The bird laid stunned after crashing into the window.
2 : to affect with shock or confusion : fill with disbelief
He was stunned by the news.
stun
transitive verb\ ˈstən \
\stunned; stunning
Medical Definition of stun
: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow
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Time Traveler for stun
The first known use of stun was in the 14th century
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