Synonym Chooser

How does the verb astound contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of astound are amaze, astonish, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

When might amaze be a better fit than astound?

The words amaze and astound can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

Where would astonish be a reasonable alternative to astound?

In some situations, the words astonish and astound are roughly equivalent. However, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

In what contexts can flabbergast take the place of astound?

Although the words flabbergast and astound have much in common, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When is surprise a more appropriate choice than astound?

While the synonyms surprise and astound are close in meaning, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

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 astound You might be astounded by what waits for you on the other side of taking a leap of faith. Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 28 July 2025 Atkins describes a moment when that speed of output particularly astounded him. Anhar Karim, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 Seattle astounded housing advocates around the country in February 2025, when roughly two-thirds of voters approved a ballot initiative proposing a new 5% payroll tax on salaries in excess of US$1 million. Susanne Schindler, The Conversation, 7 July 2025 Among other Disney live-action princess remakes, Beauty and the Beast astounded when opening to $174.6 million domestically in mid-March 2017, not adjusted for inflation. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for astound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astound
Verb
  • Through it all, your professionalism, determination, dedication, and spirit of collaboration have inspired me and amazed me time and time again.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bad Bunny’s booking for Super Bowl LX, scheduled for February, didn’t surprise anyone familiar with his music.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • For last year's celebration, Nathan Lane surprised Behar on the show with a pizza deliveryman stripper in honor of the occasion.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The discovery astonished scientists, but so did the person who made it.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Maren Morris stuns in brown cut-out dress alongside Spotify's Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins, who hosted a pre-festival brunch at Eberly in Austin, TX during Austin City Limits.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
  • When her cat started crying, one TikToker did what most pet parents would and rushed him to the vet—only to be stunned by the professional's diagnosis.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Alfred Hitchcock's classic, which revolutionized and shocked Hollywood in equal measure, was famously adapted from a novel that was based on the case of Ed Gein by American writer Robert Bloch.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
  • In August, David was in a video that shocked the world and drew commentary from the White House.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • First baseman Michael Toglia covered his head, too, and was startled when the ball landed a few feet from him.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Sleep may be disturbed by a pet's movements, and dogs may bite if startled.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Astound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astound. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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