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

Relevance

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 His 88 innings pitched are eye-opening from a reliever’s perspective, but bear in mind, Blubaugh threw 131 frames last season. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 8 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 Her review of potential sales leads – and how 4 of your 5 target customers are current or former customers – is particularly eye-opening. — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 In person, the 849 looks sleek and eye-opening, like a postmodern kinetic sculpture. — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026 The fact that Heyward could remain so calm was eye-opening for Freeman. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Reading science fiction has been eye-opening for me, not least because of the differences between sci-fi and the present day. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026 Scheffler has the benefit of simply playing and winning in this era of professional golf, but the numbers are eye-opening to compare. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Rourke completed 12-of-14 passes for 100 yards, and just as eye-opening was his mobility. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 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 development isn’t surprising considering McVay and his assistants weren’t pushing Donald to play.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Some of the better chances provoked surprising misses, in particular a header from close range from the normally dependable Merino glanced straight at the ‘keeper, and a swipe by Saka that was shanked wide.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • Chief among Kvaratskhelia’s standout moments in a PSG shirt was his wonderful solo goal against Aston Villa in last year’s Champions League quarter-final.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Many wonderful and terrible things have happened in the 25 years since, some related to the 9/11 attacks, many not at all.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • Chelsea have lapses of startling vulnerability out of possession, and while Odegaard’s winner early in the second half was decorated by a sublime Havertz dummy, the move which led to it was far too simple to settle a game of this quality.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There are startling displays of what seem to be private moments, as when, at one point, Evans allows the crew to film him showering fully naked.
    — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • Is there an argument to be made that John Schneider is doing an amazing job this year amid injuries, tough breaks and high expectations from the Jays faithful?
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Looking down at planes below Working on the 105th floor, Dadakis said, was an amazing experience.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • That whole sequence with Troy and Susan at the start of this episode is just … shocking.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Other films have handled the shocking deaths of romantic leads with more grace — Anne Hathaway riding her bike in front of a certain semi-truck in 2011 comes to mind — even while doing objectively less to ensure that they’re understood.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • The astonishing social movements of the decade—particularly the black freedom struggle and the antiwar movement—could have produced a more durable sense of solidarity and collective possibilities.
    — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • One of the best actors working today, Coon essentially plays two different sides of Rita with astonishing range across these chronologies, portraying the past and the present of her character through distinctive markers.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • For a team to pile up 38 first downs on a Clemson defense is stunning.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Mehdi Norowzian has crafted an emotionally profound and visually stunning film that demonstrates extraordinary cinematic artistry.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stunning
Adjective
  • If the Broncos have a miraculous 17-0 season, Payton would pass Marty Schottenheimer (200).
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In an escape bordering on the miraculous, the crash somehow spared motorists on Milam Dairy Road and terrified workers in a bustling industrial warehouse district west of the airport.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of miraculous

Browse Nearby Words

eye-openers
eye-opening
eyes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eye-opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-opening. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All