1
as in amazement
the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary
the Midwesterner's astonishment at seeing the ocean for the first time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shock
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
the suddenness of the thunderstorm left the picnickers in a state of astonishment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of astonishment
One of Cecilia’s first acts on arriving in London, for example—much to the displeasure and astonishment of her guardians—is to procure books.
—
Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
To my astonishment, the classic poem became one of the most mind-expanding literary experiences of my life.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Williams played to an adoring crowd at Austin's Westwood Country Club in two matches at the ATX Open this past week and left players and fans alike in astonishment at her ability to still bang with some of the best young players in the game.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Entomologist Dmitry Telnov, who participated in the expedition, expressed particular astonishment at the find.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
To my astonishment, the classic poem became one of the most mind-expanding literary experiences of my life.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Williams played to an adoring crowd at Austin's Westwood Country Club in two matches at the ATX Open this past week and left players and fans alike in astonishment at her ability to still bang with some of the best young players in the game.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Entomologist Dmitry Telnov, who participated in the expedition, expressed particular astonishment at the find.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishment
Noun
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The book is a mostly light-hearted exploration of Bennett's relationship with the tournament, from growing up in England rooting for his local soccer heroes, to watching in amazement every four years as teams from all over the globe take the spotlight on the World Cup stage.—
Jeffrey Pierre,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
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When Adebayo hit his final two foul shots to reach 83 points, players shook their heads in amazement.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The prospect of a cooling economy alongside high inflation, touched off by an oil shock, has many analysts comparing the current period to the 1970s.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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More consumer price inflation, more lower-income stress Atsi Sheth, chief credit officer at Moody’s Ratings, said this is only the most recent shock for a petrochemical industry that has seen several in recent years, from Covid to Ukraine to the Red Sea issues and now the Strait of Hormuz.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The two had been friends since the 1960s, and Gehry felt a deep admiration for Price, tinged with sympathy.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
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But again, there was no quid pro quo for this apart from friendship, admiration, and love for the man.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The event that had precipitated this change was the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a surprise assault on Israel launched by Arab forces on the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Within days, China’s surprise intervention in the deal quickly shattered that hope, as Beijing stepped up efforts to discourage Chinese AI founders from moving their businesses offshore.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The artist hopes the unexpected aural immersion, this amble through an audio garden, will be calming and reflective, revealing hidden details of the neighborhood as well as a sense of wonderment — an intriguing rather than stressful walk to the station.—
Anne Tschida,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
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Sophie’s wonderment at the ornate environment catches Benedict’s attention.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Astonishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishment. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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