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

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 flabbergast She's flabbergasted that PRNDL has endured. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025 None other than Dionne Warwick has also been flabbergasted by this latest metaphor. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025 For Perry, these operations felt like the final step to closing out a weight loss journey that flabbergasted millions online. Angela Yang, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025 Gates, who once held Musk’s current position as the world’s wealthiest person, seems to find this hard-right turn flabbergasting. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flabbergast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flabbergast
Verb
  • Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
  • What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.
    Eitan Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Reeve wasn’t surprised by Phoenix’s effort coming out of the halftime locker room.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Respecting the medium often surprises me with the most rewarding outcomes.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Thai staff were reportedly shocked by the industrial scale of the encounters.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2025
  • So the trajectory hasn’t shocked me.
    Eric Markowitz, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
  • His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.
    WWD Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Continue reading … GRACE OVER HATE – Erika Kirk's powerful act of forgiveness toward husband's killer stuns faith leaders.
    , FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Getting stunned in a corner by a few enemies or having the camera get stuck in an awkward viewpoint were minor blemishes across my playtime.
    Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • It should be noted, though, that the power comes on in a rush that might startle your passengers.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In this episode, after Kirsch points out that the eyeball/sheep-thing intentionally startled and trapped Isaac — and not for its own benefit, but to assist another alien — Kavalier decides to have a conversation with the beast, starting by asking it to recite the digits of pi.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flabbergast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flabbergast. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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