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
Relevance
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
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 astonishment
Despite its tattered state, the sofa's unique silhouette and designer pedigree drew astonishment on Reddit.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
His eyes carry the astonishment of a man who never wanted to be right.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Bare feet on grass, and astonishment at my little apple tree.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 31 July 2025
In an era of deepfakes and algorithmic sleight-of-hand, authentic astonishment is more valuable than ever.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
His eyes carry the astonishment of a man who never wanted to be right.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Bare feet on grass, and astonishment at my little apple tree.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 31 July 2025
In an era of deepfakes and algorithmic sleight-of-hand, authentic astonishment is more valuable than ever.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishment
Noun
-
More than six months later, a reply arrived in the mail—sparking amazement and confusion in her household, and fascination among viewers online.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Teammates Curry and Horford, watching in street clothes from the bench, looked on in equal parts disbelief and amazement.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sudden macroeconomic shocks or trend reversals can push prices well below the EMA, leading to mark-to-market losses or assignments on declining stocks.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Eight years on, FII has evolved from a stage for shock-and-awe reveals into a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s maturing economic strategy, and of Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) central role in driving it.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bad Bunny expressed his respect and admiration for Moreno.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Jeffries, who previously deflected questions about Mamdani, has expressed admiration for the candidate’s affordability agenda and concern over his rhetoric and policy execution.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Reactions to the extraordinary news spread quickly, ranging from surprise to anger at the league itself, according to five people who work inside or closely with the NBA, all of whom were granted anonymity because they were not permitted to speak publicly about the matter.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There might be other surprise memories of that nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But overall for Irwin, there's a sense of wonderment for all things Aussie.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
But much like Greta encounters, there’s more than the bright lights, flashy live performances, spinning cotton candy and the wide-eyed wonderment of children and adults alike.—
Kelli Skye Fadroski,
Oc Register,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Astonishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishment. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share