stupefy

verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈstü-pə-ˌfī 

ˈstyü-

stupefied; stupefying

transitive verb

1

: to make stupid, groggy, or insensible

2

: astonish, astound

stupefyingly

ˈstü-pə-ˌfī-iŋ-lē 

ˈstyü-

adverb

Synonyms of stupefy

• amaze
• stun
• surprise
• astonish
• startle
• shock

Examples of stupefy in a Sentence

stupefied by the ruling that he could not compete because he missed the qualifying age by two days

Recent Examples on the Web

The Miami Hurricanes are at home, while the entire state of Indiana – save for some in West Lafayette – is content to abandon their homes to enjoy this unexpectedly stupefying playoff march. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026

British explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett, who wandered the Amazon for 22 years at the beginning of the 20th century before vanishing without a trace, wrote that the breath of the anaconda stupefied its prey. —Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

Luka Dončić began the week averaging a stupefying 37/10/9.5 line, and the Lake Show is doing numbers even with LeBron James on ice. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025

Dark times shade even darker, and yet through it all, in ways both uplifting and stupefying, life goes on. —Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stupifien, modification of Latin stupefacere, from stupēre to be astonished + facere to make, do — more at do

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stupefy

• beefy
• leafy

Kids Definition

stupefy

verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈst(y)ü-pə-ˌfī 

stupefied; stupefying

1

: astonish, bewilder

the strange sight stupefied the crowd

2

: to make stupid, groggy, or numb

stupefied by the huge meal

Medical Definition

stupefy

transitive verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈst(y)ü-pə-ˌfī 

stupefied; stupefying

: to make stupid, groggy, or insensible

stupefied by anesthesia