Synonyms of amaze

amaze 1 of 3

verb (1)

ə-ˈmāz 

as in to surprise

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

your ability to remember names and faces amazes me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surprise
• astonish
• stun
• shock
• startle
• astound
• dumbfound
• flabbergast
• stupefy
• rock
• bewilder
• take by surprise
• perplex
• take aback
• thunderstrike
• confuse
• befuddle
• bowl over
• disconcert
• floor
• shake up
• dismay
• confound
• nonplus
• discomfit
• daze
• blow away
• blindside
• muddle
• jar
• knock for a loop

amazed

2 of 3

adjective

ə-ˈmāzd 

1

as in stunned

affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise

you'd be amazed at the destruction one small squirrel can cause inside a house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stunned
• shocked
• astonished
• surprised
• horrified
• appalled
• astounded
• dumbstruck
• startled
• awestruck
• dumbfounded
• flabbergasted
• thunderstruck
• stupefied
• bewildered
• aghast
• overwhelmed
• dazed
• bowled over
• dismayed
• awed
• confused
• blindsided
• awesome
• wide-eyed
• widemouthed
• agape
• open-mouthed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unruffled
• casual
• nonchalant
• blasé

2

as in wondering

filled with amazement or wonder

a visitor cannot help but be amazed by the size of the Great Pyramid

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wondering
• astonished
• surprised
• awed
• bewildered
• marveling
• astounded
• awestruck
• stunned
• dumbfounded
• flabbergasted
• puzzled
• startled
• open-mouthed
• bemused
• overwhelmed
• staggered
• stupefied

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unimpressed
• disinterested
• indifferent
• unconcerned
• uninterested
• dispassionate
• bored
• impassive
• incurious
• unemotional
• jaded
• emotionless

amazed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of amaze

as in surprised

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

your ability to remember names and faces amazes me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surprised
• stunned
• shocked
• astonished
• startled
• astounded
• flabbergasted
• dumbfounded
• rocked
• stupefied
• thunderstruck
• bewildered
• perplexed
• confused
• floored
• bowled over
• dismayed
• took by surprise
• took aback
• disconcerted
• befuddled
• nonplussed
• dazed
• blindsided
• jarred
• confounded
• blew away
• muddled
• shook up
• discomfited
• knocked for a loop

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amaze contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of amaze are astonish, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When would astonish be a good substitute for amaze?

The synonyms astonish and amaze are sometimes interchangeable, but astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

In what contexts can astound take the place of amaze?

The words astound and amaze can be used in similar contexts, but astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to amaze?

The meanings of flabbergast and amaze largely overlap; however, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When could surprise be used to replace amaze?

While the synonyms surprise and amaze are close in meaning, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of amaze

Verb

But of the many falsehoods told by them, there was one which quite amazed me. — Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026

His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Adjective

Hard to find anybody who is not amazed by both his talent and his humility. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Boone was especially amazed that the museum has a 20-foot segment of the 360-foot communications antenna that once rose from the North Tower. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Verb

Just before halftime, van Persie slipped past the Spanish defensive line to receive a long-range pass from teammate Daley Blind and looped the ball over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a first-time diving header that amazed the audience. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026

When Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone at America’s Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the invention amazed the crowd. — David H. Hsu, Fortune, 11 May 2026