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
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
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Recent Examples of astonishing
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Sharpshooter Chris Ashby led the way for Queens, scoring 34 points and hitting an astonishing 10 3-pointers, many of them in transition when Queens attacked the Central Arkansas trap.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The irony now is that, as Vance feared, American missile interceptors necessary to deter the Chinese military are being burned through at an astonishing rate—just not by the Ukrainians.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Analysts have revised their 2026 capex expectations for these tech giants to an astonishing $667 billion, a 24% increase from just the start of the earnings season and representing a 62% jump compared with 2025.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astonishing
Adjective
And 17 teams were consistent losers, led by the Raiders, who failed at an astonishing nine of 10 hires.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Sharpshooter Chris Ashby led the way for Queens, scoring 34 points and hitting an astonishing 10 3-pointers, many of them in transition when Queens attacked the Central Arkansas trap.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The irony now is that, as Vance feared, American missile interceptors necessary to deter the Chinese military are being burned through at an astonishing rate—just not by the Ukrainians.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Analysts have revised their 2026 capex expectations for these tech giants to an astonishing $667 billion, a 24% increase from just the start of the earnings season and representing a 62% jump compared with 2025.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astonishing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishing
Adjective
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On the surface, however, what appears to be most surprising is the apparent lack of parachutes for the crew.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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In other sports news, Team USA had a surprising loss to Italy at the World Baseball Classic, as did the Illini in the Big Ten Tournament, while the Bears re-signed several players and lost others to free agency.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The scent, a refreshing citrus and amber fragrance, leaves your hair smelling amazing well after wash day.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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In this era of online overexposure, there’s something kind of amazing about that.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional death for kids ages 5-14, with a startling 28% rise in fatalities in 2022 compared to 2019, according to the CDC.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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About 30 minutes into the flight, passengers said flight attendants began running up and down the aisle appearing agitated before making a startling announcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Coast Guard is a huge piece of this puzzle, and to be able to see the Coast Guard come to realization is wonderful.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Something wonderful could drop into your lap in mid-June.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With personal testimonies and shocking footage from the bombing of Nasser Hospital to the political struggle in the halls of American power, the film reveals a terrible reality, paving the way for humanity and collective action.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
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Repot in the proper season and handle roots gently to avoid shocking the plant.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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All the better to see the stunning red lips that perfectly match her dress.—
Ana Serrano,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
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Her expressive brush strokes and attention to personal detail create works that are both visually stunning and deeply meaningful.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That surprise of illumination, that miraculous, orbiting satellite in the dark, bellowing night.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
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But are those seemingly miraculous results on your feed actually legit?—
Fiona Ward,
Glamour,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So this guy is very good, very good, incredible.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
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In the second half, Smith had a handful of incredible saves to keep the score at 2-1, including leaping up to snare a crossing pass and stopping two shots on breakaways.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Astonishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishing. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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