Synonyms of flabbergast

flabbergast

verb

ˈfla-bər-ˌgast 

as in to amaze

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amaze
• surprise
• shock
• stun
• astonish
• startle
• dumbfound
• astound
• stupefy
• rock
• bewilder
• perplex
• take aback
• take by surprise
• befuddle
• confuse
• disconcert
• floor
• nonplus
• thunderstrike
• discomfit
• dismay
• daze
• bowl over
• muddle
• blindside
• confound
• shake up
• blow away
• jar
• knock for a loop

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flabbergast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flabbergast are amaze, astonish, astound, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When would amaze be a good substitute for flabbergast?

The words amaze and flabbergast can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is astonish a more appropriate choice than flabbergast?

The meanings of astonish and flabbergast largely overlap; however, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When might astound be a better fit than flabbergast?

While in some cases nearly identical to flabbergast, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would surprise be a reasonable alternative to flabbergast?

In some situations, the words surprise and flabbergast are roughly equivalent. However, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flabbergast

To be clear, it's been extremely detrimental to the Yankees, who have to be flabbergasted at his immediate fall-off upon arrival. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

The pitching coach was flabbergasted. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

He’s been flabbergasted by what’s happened since 2021. —Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025

But over the last month, since Los Angeles swung a midnight trade that flabbergasted the NBA, this clash has elevated from a one-off novelty to a plausible NBA Finals preview. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2025