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

Verb

• daze
• rock

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

When Kevin Anderson, Burns' friend from prison, read the transcript of the hearing, he was stunned. —Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025

But at the hearings, the lawyers were frequently stunned by how government attorneys described the whereabouts of the men in question. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 2 May 2025

Neighbors stunned by sight of man hiding in tree to escape ICE agents [KSAT] A San Antonio man climbed up a tree to avoid being detained by ICE agents. —Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

As the gang stands in the shed, stunned by the struggle that just occurred, Keith suddenly collapses. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 2 May 2025

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