as in suddenly
without warning
completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving
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Recent Examples of aback
However, Devin’s very taken aback by her desire for a prenup.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The audience’s reaction and engagement have taken us all aback.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
The southern hospitality took Alabama football’s new offensive coordinator aback.
—Matt Stahl | Mstahl@al.com, al, 6 Aug. 2023
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Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Your own brilliance could take you aback today.
—USA TODAY, 23 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for aback
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The audience’s reaction and engagement have taken us all aback.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
The southern hospitality took Alabama football’s new offensive coordinator aback.
—Matt Stahl | Mstahl@al.com, al, 6 Aug. 2023
Free Daily and Monthly Horoscopes Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope
Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Your own brilliance could take you aback today.
—USA TODAY, 23 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for aback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aback
Adverb
-
The fatigue ignored by the excitement of returning suddenly returned.—
Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez,
The Dial,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In each video, there was a surprising event — like a mouse suddenly jumping out of the corner.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Upwards of ten thousand fans made the trip each year, but despite the match-up’s popularity and history, the Georgia Tech administration unexpectedly announced its intention to end the series when the contract ran out in the late 1970s.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Wholesale inflation prices also fell unexpectedly last month.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aback. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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