1
as in amazement
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shock
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
the suddenness of the thunderstorm left the picnickers in a state of astonishment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of astonishment
For Córdova, that path began with a moment of astonishment: watching a television program about neutron stars as a young woman, she was struck by the immensity of the cosmos and felt the pull of a question that would guide her for a lifetime — how does the universe work?
—
John Drake, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Then, to my astonishment, two slender blue-white streaks appeared, faintly at first, then slightly brighter, like a pair of angel wings peeking through some wondrous celestial realm.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025
Plant finds his voice amid an astonishment of hairstyles.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Among those who watched in astonishment at the fundraiser were New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and California U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
John Drake, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Then, to my astonishment, two slender blue-white streaks appeared, faintly at first, then slightly brighter, like a pair of angel wings peeking through some wondrous celestial realm.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025
Plant finds his voice amid an astonishment of hairstyles.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Among those who watched in astonishment at the fundraiser were New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and California U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishment
Noun
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On the eve of Lionel Messi’s 38th birthday, more than 60,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium watched in amazement as his Inter Miami team took a 2-0 lead on Brazilian great Palmeiras, and then held their breath as Palmeiras tied it 2-2 in an entertaining Club World Cup match.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
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Much to their amazement, both pregnancies progressed healthily, and the couple ultimately welcomed two babies, born 17 weeks apart.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Clark’s ranking was a shock to many across the social media landscape.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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But when faced with financial shocks or broader economic uncertainty, many businesses reduce their credit card payments by an average of 3.2%.—
Juliana Berger,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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TikTok users couldn't get enough of the wholesome moment, flooding the comments with admiration—and relatable stories.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Noting that Cyrus had traveled with the family on vacation, The Terminator star reiterated his admiration for the musician.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The Blue Jackets, who added veteran forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood earlier in the day, selected defenseman Jackson Smith with the No. 14 overall pick and — in a surprise to many — goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov with the No. 20 overall pick.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Lorde celebrated the release of Virgin by performing the entire album live for the first time at a surprise, early-morning set at Glastonbury.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The setting for the show is the beauteous grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts, which has been tricked out to accommodate all sorts of interactive and balloon-based wonderment.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
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During his latest mission, his third long-duration on the International Space Station, Pettit brought his brand of wonderment to the assignment.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Astonishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishment. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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