astonishing 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ How to pronounce astonishing (audio)
Definition of astonishingnext
1
as in surprising
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness gave us the astonishing news she was getting married

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amazing
causing wonder or astonishment an astonishing view of the Grand Canyon that few tourists get to see

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

astonishing

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 astonishing
Adjective
Collins lexicographers monitor an astonishing 27 billion words annually. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026 The astonishing blue wave also means the United States will likely have its first-ever Black speaker of the House. — Arkansas Online, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
Less than a month after astonishing the world with its solution to the long-standing Navier-Stokes problem, OpenAI has released 722 maths papers, proving or disproving problems across numerous fields from algebraic geometry to number theory. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026 Nordstrom has really sweet jewelry pieces at not-astonishing price points. — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for astonishing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishing
  1. surprising
  2. amazing
  3. stunning
  4. startling
  5. wonderful
  6. shocking
  7. miraculous
  8. incredible
Adjective
  • The sommelier was knowledgeable and provided us with pairings that spanned traditional offerings like cheeses, as well as some surprising additions like home fries and oxtail.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The combination of our three creative personas is surprising.
    — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • That technology gave birth to amazing stories like Jurassic Park and Terminator 2.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2026
  • What makes this even more amazing is that, of all the hundreds of high schools on Long Island, Jojo attends the Greenky’s alma mater.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of amazing
Verb
  • Footage of the fight shared online showed Williams punching Colón in the back of the head in the seventh round, apparently stunning him.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Margaret deploys this power to find Daniel and to free him from Noah and the WARDEX minions—essentially, by stunning them emotionally.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Definition of stunning
Adjective
  • The movie exudes a startling confidence, at once buoyant and grounded—the kind of assurance that can emerge when a young director’s grasp of the medium, however nascent, is in synch with his feel for his characters and their world.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Famous authors, starting with Charles Dickens in Bleak House, took inspiration from these startling descriptions, which popped up in Enlightenment and Victorian-era tabloids.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • Server was wonderful and attentive and the manager came around to check on things.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2026
  • There’s a wonderful connection between this film and the festival.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Verb
  • Stevenson sprinted into the end zone for a 48-yard score as the clock expired, shocking the entire Soldier Field crowd as the Bears were only up 20-14.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • While hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully, pockets of violence erupted, shocking the country, as protesters smashed shopfronts and set Limoges Town Hall on fire.
    — Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • Senior backup quarterback Max Cutforth entered the game in Madsen’s absence and led the Broncos on a miraculous, back-and-forth comeback.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Jones later threw an interception in the end zone from the Georgia 3, ending any chance for a miraculous comeback with five minutes to go in the third.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of miraculous
Adjective
  • Shortly thereafter, the Rockets fumbled the ball away on their next possession, and O’Connell’s incredible night continued.
    — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Stones album is also incredible, in a very different way.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of incredible

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Cite this Entry

“Astonishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishing. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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