stun

1 of 2

verb

ˈstən 

stunned; stunning

transitive verb

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

2 of 2

noun

: the effect of something that stuns : shock

Synonyms of stun

Verb

• daze
• paralyze
• rock
• hit

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Learning only three bilingual psychologists remained, board member Jeff McBride said he was stunned by the situation since the school district is overwhelmingly Hispanic and approximately 55% of all students are English learners. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Video footage from an AP camera crew shows damage to the building, then stunned and wounded people emerging. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

So when McVay pulled Jimmy Lake aside and told him that the Rams were trading for McDuffie, Lake said he was nearly stunned. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The sight of his struggling left Carlos Alcaraz, who had a match that afternoon but caught some of Djokovic’s afterward, stunned. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English stonen, stunen, from Anglo-French estoner — more at astonish

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stun

• stun grenade
• stun gun

Rhymes for stun

• bun
• done
• dun
• fun
• gun
• hun
• jun
• none
• nun
• one
• pun
• run

Kids Definition

stun

verb

ˈstən

stunned; stunning

1

: to make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow

2

: to overcome with astonishment or disbelief

stunned by the news

stun noun

Medical Definition

stun

transitive verb

ˈstən 

stunned; stunning

: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow