as in suddenly
without warning
completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving
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Recent Examples of aback
Clients were unaware of her schemes for years, though Ms. Barasch noted in court documents that Ms. Schiff’s spending on herself sometimes took her aback; she was struck when Ms. Schiff ran up a bill of $32,000 at Loewe in Paris, for things like $573 leggings and $953 jeans.
—
Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 18 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
Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 18 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
Cite this Entry
“Aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aback. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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