as in suddenly
without warning
completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving
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Recent Examples of aback
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
While the half-point increase was broadly expected, the dire warning about the fragility of the U.K. economy and stagflation, the toxic combination of no economic growth and inflation, took markets aback.
—Will Horner, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022
When this arises, the surprise can take you aback.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for 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
While the half-point increase was broadly expected, the dire warning about the fragility of the U.K. economy and stagflation, the toxic combination of no economic growth and inflation, took markets aback.
—Will Horner, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022
When this arises, the surprise can take you aback.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for aback
Cite this Entry
“Aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aback. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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