1
as in surprising
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
hunting for a first apartment in a big city is an eye-opening experience for young people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wonderful
causing wonder or astonishment
that acclaimed magic act had a number of eye-opening moments
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of eye-opening
The bodycam video was an eye-opening look at the frightening aftermath of the Brown campus shooting when police were searching room-by-room for the suspect, trying to comfort and care for terrified students, and trying to coordinate with campus police to get past locked doors.
—
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Marino’s thoughts on Tagovailoa, however, were particularly eye-opening.
—Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Their film was more eye-opening than the raw numbers.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
How antioxidants affect menopause A recent study published in Scientific Reports takes a closer look at how antioxidants may influence the timing of menopause, and the findings are eye-opening.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 19 Jan. 2026
Uncovering Najash’s place in the snake family tree has been eye-opening.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Our visit to Montevago, with communication courtesy of Google Translate, was eye-opening.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
Wathen said the experience is not only eye-opening for volunteers but also part of the church’s mission.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Dec. 2025
From Felipe Torres Medina, a staff writer on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, comes this educational and eye-opening look at the quagmire of the immigration system.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Marino’s thoughts on Tagovailoa, however, were particularly eye-opening.
—Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Their film was more eye-opening than the raw numbers.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
How antioxidants affect menopause A recent study published in Scientific Reports takes a closer look at how antioxidants may influence the timing of menopause, and the findings are eye-opening.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 19 Jan. 2026
Uncovering Najash’s place in the snake family tree has been eye-opening.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Our visit to Montevago, with communication courtesy of Google Translate, was eye-opening.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
Wathen said the experience is not only eye-opening for volunteers but also part of the church’s mission.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Dec. 2025
From Felipe Torres Medina, a staff writer on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, comes this educational and eye-opening look at the quagmire of the immigration system.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-opening
Adjective
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There is one surprising tool that can avoid all the sneezing and cleanup that this job usually entails.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The style of proof that the LLMs came up with was particularly surprising, Abouzaid says.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Thankfully, the wonderful leaders of our great state of Florida have corrected this problem.—
Krys Fluker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
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Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit, before the crowds descend for the summer months.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Each year, startling rises in defense spending seem nearer, but do not bring change.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Nevils shares startling data to support these expert testimonies.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Great Britain had to win to stay alive for the medal round, and won on an amazing throw by skip Rebecca Morrison, who banked her stone off a wide blocking stone and spun it right.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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So many comedians would have been amazing hosting that show.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This shocking ignorance and insensitivity by Ocasio-Cortez should rule her out of any potential presidential bid or other high office.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Viewers barely have time to register what’s in front of them before there’s another shocking accusation, revelation, or character detail.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mirabilis, being Latin for astonishing.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But from the jaws of defeat, Team USA pulled off an astonishing Olympic comeback, sending the players leaving Italy with gold medals swinging around their necks.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In a stunning reversal, the Justice Department on Thursday filed a motion seeking to drop criminal charges against the two Venezuelan men.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Portland’s Damian Lillard joined Bird and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as the only three-time winners with a stunning exhibition in the final round, ending up with a score of 29 — two better than runner-up and 2018 champion Devin Booker of Phoenix.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And Timmons had been diagnosed with cancer a decade earlier, so his miraculous recovery from seeming to be at death’s door doesn’t quite ring true.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
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The very fact that Macclesfield as a club is even in business is nothing short of miraculous given the financial hardship the 6th-tier club in North-West England has faced over the years.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Eye-opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-opening. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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