Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

flabbergast

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of flabbergast

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
  • Your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me.
Synonyms of flabbergast

amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise (also surprize)
Words Related to flabbergast

befuddle, bewilder, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up
Phrases Synonymous with flabbergast

knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise

Synonym Discussion of flabbergast

surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.
    • surprised to find them at home
astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.
    • a discovery that astonished the world
astound stresses the shock of astonishment.
    • too astounded to respond
amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.
    • amazed by the immense size of the place
flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.
    • flabbergasted by his angry refusal

Learn More about flabbergast

  1. See words that rhyme with flabbergast Dictionary: Definition of flabbergast Spanish Central: Translation of flabbergast Nglish: Translation of flabbergast for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flabbergast for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up flabbergast? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games