astonishment

1 the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary the Midwesterner's astonishment at seeing the ocean for the first time Synonyms admiration, amazement, wonder, awe, wondermentRelated Words dread; fear; respect, reverence, veneration; curiosity, interest; shock, surprise; disbelief, incomprehension, incredulity; beguilement, bewitchment, captivation, enchantment, fascination; animation, enlightenment, enlivenment, excitement, invigoration, stimulation; absorption, engagement, engrossment, enthrallment, immersion, involvementNear Antonyms apathy, disinterest, incuriosity, indifference, unconcern; boredom, doldrums, ennui, listlessness, restlessness, tedium, tiredness, weariness, weltschmerz; cheerlessness, dispiritedness, joylessness, melancholy

2 the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual the suddenness of the thunderstorm left the picnickers in a state of astonishment Synonyms amazement, surprise, shock, startlement, stupefactionRelated Words awe, wonder, wonderment; startle; bewilderment, confusion, consternation, discomfiture, dismay