eye-opening

adjective

Definition of eye-openingnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 eye-opening The former actor also noted that getting to know the Directorial Staff (DS) and seeing their brotherhood in action was eye-opening for friendships in general. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026 What the documentary finds, or at least calls new attention towards, is alternately eye-opening, obvious, and eye-opening for its obviousness. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026 One eye-opening finding from the report is that, no pun intended, GLP-1 drugs are reshaping fashion apparel. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 One eye-opening game won’t necessarily purge that thinking, and no doubt Worthy has plenty more to demonstrate. — Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 Luna 3’s images were eye-opening but still blandly colorless and fuzzy—especially compared with the kaleidoscopic, panchromatic views from Artemis II’s lunar pirouette. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026 Given DuVernay’s track record, the film is bound to be eye-opening and galvanizing. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 Even on simple motion in the backfield, his acceleration was eye-opening. — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 For long-time listeners to meetings of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, which is distinctly independent from NASA and tasked with identifying safety issues, these were eye-opening statements. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-opening
  1. surprising
  2. wonderful
  3. startling
  4. amazing
  5. shocking
  6. astonishing
  7. stunning
  8. miraculous
Adjective
  • The sommelier was knowledgeable and provided us with pairings that spanned traditional offerings like cheeses, as well as some surprising additions like home fries and oxtail.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The combination of our three creative personas is surprising.
    — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • Server was wonderful and attentive and the manager came around to check on things.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2026
  • There’s a wonderful connection between this film and the festival.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • The movie exudes a startling confidence, at once buoyant and grounded—the kind of assurance that can emerge when a young director’s grasp of the medium, however nascent, is in synch with his feel for his characters and their world.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Famous authors, starting with Charles Dickens in Bleak House, took inspiration from these startling descriptions, which popped up in Enlightenment and Victorian-era tabloids.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • That technology gave birth to amazing stories like Jurassic Park and Terminator 2.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2026
  • What makes this even more amazing is that, of all the hundreds of high schools on Long Island, Jojo attends the Greenky’s alma mater.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • Democrats notched several shocking flips in seats President Donald won by double digits in 2024, meaning those districts will be some of the toughest to defend in a more even election cycle.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Democrats felt optimistic about taking the majority earlier in the night than some had expected after the shocking win in South Carolina.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • The astonishing details about the filming of Rocky as depicted in its new making-of biopic are true.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Democrats flipped an astonishing 15 seats in the Florida House that were held by Republicans.
    — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • The vote was a stunning upset victory for American democracy.
    — James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Woven through the movie are hundreds of photographs that were shot by Richard Avedon, and there’s no question that the images are stunning, but the way the movie layers them into your consciousness is nearly musical in its finesse.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of stunning
Adjective
  • Senior backup quarterback Max Cutforth entered the game in Madsen’s absence and led the Broncos on a miraculous, back-and-forth comeback.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Jones later threw an interception in the end zone from the Georgia 3, ending any chance for a miraculous comeback with five minutes to go in the third.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of miraculous

Browse Nearby Words

eye-openers
eye-opening
eyes
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Cite this Entry

“Eye-opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-opening. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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