as in amazes
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
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Recent Examples of bowls over
The order in which those balls were plucked out of those bowls over the next few minutes would determine the World Cup matchups in June–and the psychological state of so many soccer fans.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
Sean Gregory, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowls over
Verb
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More than 30 years later, what amazes me isn’t just what that team accomplished on the field.—
Charlie Davies,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
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This technology still amazes me.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Verb
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His plans take a turn when Minnie surprises him and the gang with tickets to spend Christmas at a world-famous Ice Palace.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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What the program asks of you in return The 200 hours of sweat equity is the part of the program that surprises some applicants.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Laura Dern looks amazing in marabou feathers, Marissa Long stuns in sequins, and Chris Messina is also there.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
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Torch Lake in Michigan stuns with its clear turquoise water, glacial origins, and iconic summer sandbar scene.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Many of those who knew the victims and the 25-year-old suspect say the news still shocks them.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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Bubbles Didn’t Enter The Picture That Early In one of the moist unintentionally hilarious moments in the movie, Michael shocks his family by adopting a CGI baby chimpanzee named Bubbles sometime around 1979.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
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If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Taylor Swift rocks her signature glam for her induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 11 in New York City.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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Brunson notes that, in one episode, Janine rocks a ponytail.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Verb
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More than 42,000 of those pieces were found over just the past eight years of excavation, a pace that astonishes even the researchers leading the work.—
Ryan Brennan
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowls over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowls%20over. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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