astonished 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈstä-nisht How to pronounce astonished (audio)
Definition of astonishednext
1
as in amazed
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise was astonished at seeing a cow wandering down Main Street

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wondering
filled with amazement or wonder grandparents astonished at how much their grandchildren had grown in the past year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

astonished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of astonish
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of astonished
Adjective
One that draws more approving thumbs-ups, creates more astonished grins, or pulls more phones from pockets for impromptu photographs and video—especially in stunning Verde Ermes metallic paint. — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026 Live, the 11-year-old actor shared his astonished reaction to getting the note. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
Ice at a party doesn’t sound revolutionary today (think of how many tons of it that wedding at MSG must’ve used), but on this day in 1850, when waiters appeared carrying bottles of champagne on ice, guests—accustomed to warm wine—were astonished. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 Menna was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where doctors say her recovery has left them astonished. — Joshua Cole, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for astonished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonished
  1. amazed
  2. surprised
  3. stunned
  4. shocked
  5. bewildered
  6. startled
  7. horrified
Adjective
  • Their friends were amazed by their likeness, and ⁠the girls swapped addresses.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The moon only blocked about 10% of the sun this time, but spectators were amazed anyway.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of amazed
Adjective
  • McGregor, however, was pleasantly surprised, many years later, to find out that there actually is a passionate fanbase out there for his three Star Wars movies.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • So don’t be surprised if the iPhone Fold is powered by a traditional lithium-ion cell, which will likely be smaller than the Fold 8.
    — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprised
Verb
  • At one point during the summit, Reagan and Gorbachev were close to agreeing on a deal that would remove every single nuclear missile from the planet, a moment in the transcript that Gunn was particularly stunned by.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Smart stunned in the creation, pairing it with black-and-gold drop earrings fitted with diamonds and one statement ring.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • Shell-shocked, Daemon appears ready to woozily charge into his final battle, death with his sword swinging.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Owens immediately went after Balor and Gunther while Zayn stood in the ring shocked.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • One bewildered South African man said protesters had burst into his home and stolen the lunch from his plate.
    — Julie Bourdin, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • The 10-episode first season (critics received six for review) opens in the early hours of the morning, when Anna is startled awake by a phone call.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.
    — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • When Tae-ha starts a fire that erupts into an explosion, a horrified Eun-sae begins to remember her life before amnesia.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In one early scene, a horrified Pam stares into her bathroom mirror, covered head to toe in blood.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Definition of horrified

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Cite this Entry

“Astonished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonished. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of astonished for Spanish Speakers

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