as in amazement
the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary
was in awe of the sinewy Olympic runners
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as in to amaze
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of awe
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
Amazon shoppers are in awe of Missha’s multifaceted glow-booster.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The film is clearly awed by Ann Lee’s vision, but — in a way almost completely unique to a modern rendering of a religious figure — refuses to pass any moral judgment whatsoever about her credo.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awe
Noun
That repertoire left Betances in awe on Wednesday.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
Amazon shoppers are in awe of Missha’s multifaceted glow-booster.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
McQueen’s work asks us to confront the ways that awe at beauty can be marbled with disgust.
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The film is clearly awed by Ann Lee’s vision, but — in a way almost completely unique to a modern rendering of a religious figure — refuses to pass any moral judgment whatsoever about her credo.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awe
Noun
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When Adebayo hit his final two foul shots to reach 83 points, players shook their heads in amazement.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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The time and attention to detail afforded it by Lord and Miller suggest that the directors are as susceptible as any of us to that amazement, elevated by the moving solemnity and celestial dimensions of Daniel Pemberton’s beautiful score.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This natural sculpting resulted in stunning sandstone formations that amaze visitors who flock to the site, which is free and open to the public year-round.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
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Melissa's rapid intensification and high winds and atypical hurricane behavior amazed even some of the more experienced scientists who study tropical cyclones, thanks in part to its journey over some exceptionally warm waters in the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Embiid said in astonishment after the game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
To my astonishment, the classic poem became one of the most mind-expanding literary experiences of my life.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The film features numerous long-winded monologues, including one delivered by Tracy that astounded Shatner on set.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
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Don’t let Paffuto’s casual counter service mislead you; their inventive spins on Italian classics will astound and delight.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Depending on the viewer, the video elicited either admiration, outrage or existential hand-wringing.—
Holly Willis,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
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His admiration for his countryman was evident in a Pritzker statement.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At some point this past fall, Hegseth’s under-secretary for research and engineering, the former Uber executive Emil Michael, reviewed the Pentagon’s arrangement with Anthropic and was dismayed to find that Claude could not be deployed according to the government’s every whim.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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Republicans may be dismayed to see the two popular party leaders battling it out in what promises to be a brutal and expensive election.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sophie’s wonderment at the ornate environment catches Benedict’s attention.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The American people this morning, George, are scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear of what the president has proposed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The murder appalled the city, and Musa’s family demanded justice.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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Some Lakes residents are appalled by her solicitation.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awe. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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