1
as in amazed
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise
realizing that they had been left out of the will, the billionaire's relatives just sat there, stunned
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
the loud noise left her momentarily stunned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dazed
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow
a powerful uppercut to the jaw stunned the boxer and sent him crashing to the canvas
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news of their boss's termination stunned the staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stunned
Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The unexpected guest drew a stunned silence from attendees, with many snapping photos.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Part of the big event began at the end of last week’s episode, when a stunned NCIS director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) tells Parker that NCIS is being shut down.
—Jim Halterman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The mother of four stunned, wearing a long-sleeved, figure-hugging metallic dress to walk the red carpet at the Oscars after-party.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Minnesota killing off a late-period penalty was about the only highlight for Wild fans, who went to the second intermission a bit stunned at the deficit facing their team.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
The stunned victim dropped to the floor about five minutes later.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Berry, who immediately wiped away his saliva, looked stunned, even horrified, but Brody didn’t seem to notice.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Photos of Tan circulated widely across social media, sparking the same kind of stunned reactions that continue to surface today with his 60th birthday.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The Chaparrals regional final followed along those lines, but a goal by Christian Quintana of El Paso Burges with just 14 seconds left in the second overtime period stunned Wyatt in a 1-0 loss in the Class 5A Division 2 Region 1 Final on Tuesday at Astound Stadium in Midland.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Costco customers stunned by Easter treat.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers have been stunned by the number of deaths and have separately proposed House Bill 5567, which would provide sweeping changes to improve health care in state prisons.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Anyone hoping on the CTA knows to be alert, but over the weekend, one passenger on the train left passengers, not to mention those driving along the Dan Ryan, stunned.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
When confronted with the reality of the universe – an enormous starry void we humans are only beginning to understand – scientists and space explorers are often stunned and humbled by the extent of their own ignorance.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
But the text accompanying the post told a very different story about the puppy’s early growth and left viewers stunned.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Team captain Jimmy Falon and the other guests are stunned.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Video of Raftery's stunned reaction to the scene on the court quickly went viral on social media, which promptly delivered jokes about the 82-year-old's potential demise.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The unexpected guest drew a stunned silence from attendees, with many snapping photos.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Part of the big event began at the end of last week’s episode, when a stunned NCIS director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) tells Parker that NCIS is being shut down.
—Jim Halterman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The mother of four stunned, wearing a long-sleeved, figure-hugging metallic dress to walk the red carpet at the Oscars after-party.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Minnesota killing off a late-period penalty was about the only highlight for Wild fans, who went to the second intermission a bit stunned at the deficit facing their team.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
The stunned victim dropped to the floor about five minutes later.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Berry, who immediately wiped away his saliva, looked stunned, even horrified, but Brody didn’t seem to notice.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Photos of Tan circulated widely across social media, sparking the same kind of stunned reactions that continue to surface today with his 60th birthday.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
The teen was stunned that the brazen daylight shooting occurred near families.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The Chaparrals regional final followed along those lines, but a goal by Christian Quintana of El Paso Burges with just 14 seconds left in the second overtime period stunned Wyatt in a 1-0 loss in the Class 5A Division 2 Region 1 Final on Tuesday at Astound Stadium in Midland.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Costco customers stunned by Easter treat.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers have been stunned by the number of deaths and have separately proposed House Bill 5567, which would provide sweeping changes to improve health care in state prisons.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Anyone hoping on the CTA knows to be alert, but over the weekend, one passenger on the train left passengers, not to mention those driving along the Dan Ryan, stunned.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
When confronted with the reality of the universe – an enormous starry void we humans are only beginning to understand – scientists and space explorers are often stunned and humbled by the extent of their own ignorance.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
But the text accompanying the post told a very different story about the puppy’s early growth and left viewers stunned.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Team captain Jimmy Falon and the other guests are stunned.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunned
Adjective
-
Wenger is amazed by the number of bike riders who take their bikes on the train even in winter.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Kids tend to be amazed by the sheer scale of the house, and the surrounding grounds give little legs plenty of room to run.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There was no punchline, no twist — just the straightforward, slightly bewildered observation that someone, somewhere, had performed surgery on a grape.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Exasperated, bewildered, and realizing other musicians were also dealing with this, Bender came up with a way to show just how porous the system was.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eleven, the show’s telekinetic heroine, who grew up in a lab, became dazed by the number of clothing options at the Gap.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Firefighters were trying to put out flames, others were trying to find victims inside, Sanford's truck was still there and church members who'd just survived the horror were on the lawn, dazed.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Its most iconic product surprised even the engineers who built it.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The battle even surprised Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Cain seems genuinely shocked by this.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Lexi, who appears to be an assistant, is shocked.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When the director approached Hanks directly, the actor was confused.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
After catching confused glances all through Venice, traversing neighborhoods and winding along Abbott Kinney, the group landed at the home of Matt Ricotta.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the war with Iran has rocked markets, sending the Dow and Nasdaq into correction territory.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The horrific shooting has rocked the Plainville community, with its reverberations being felt throughout the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The news, revealed in court filings last week, astonished environmental lawyers, who were already shocked after the Department of the Interior announced two weeks ago that a meeting to discuss an exemption would take place on March 31.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Holmes is a funny guy, making impossible deductions and Watson still managing to be astonished by it.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunned. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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