as in surprising
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the flabbergasting sight of the mess that the teens had left in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in amazing
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flabbergasting
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Dohnányi, after no end of rigorous rehearsal, obtained a collective sound of unreal, flabbergasting clarity.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flabbergasting
Adjective
-
Joy has surprising traction today.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
More startling, though, was his passing.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The startling scale of detentions made Israel the third-worst jailer of journalists for 2025, behind only China and Myanmar, according to CPJ.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Australians won their second straight SailGP event, although the Bermuda success was not quite as dominant as their stunning four-wins-in-a-day Sunday in Rio de Janeiro last month.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The property has a beautiful minimalist, modern design with pops of natural wood accents and stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.—
Kimberley Mok,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
However, those things aren’t necessarily shocking battle scenes.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 May 2026
-
The settlement notice appears to mark the end of a lawsuit that was shocking not only because of its allegations, but also because of the person making the claims.—
Tess Riski
May 7,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
His victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari 499P Hypercar marked a new peak in his astonishing recovery from a life-changing rally crash in 2011.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
The nomination is really a testament to the remarkable artists who brought the play to life—our astonishing director, Kenny Leon, our extraordinary ensemble of actors, our brilliant designers, and the tireless crew, along with everyone at MTC.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flabbergasting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flabbergasting. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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