open-mouthed

adjective

ˌō-pən-ˈmau̇t͟hd How to pronounce open-mouthed (audio)
variants also openmouthed
Definition of open-mouthednext
as in wondering
filled with amazement or wonder the stunning view from the mountaintop left us open-mouthed and at a loss for words

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 open-mouthed Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026 Around his head hovers a cluster of disembodied faces — creepy alt-Altmans, their expressions ranging from anger to open-mouthed woe. — Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026 The camera panned to an open-mouthed Johansson standing in the wings. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026 The oldest of three brothers, he was followed into professional football by Bob, who played for Halifax Town, Middlesbrough, Notts County and Southend United, and then by Frank, who, from a very early age, could do things with a ball that would leave his siblings open-mouthed. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open-mouthed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open-mouthed
  1. amazed
  2. astonished
  3. bewildered
  4. surprised
  5. awed
Adjective
  • As the world waits with bated breath for official photographs from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding—specifically of Swift’s custom Dior wedding dress—Jason Kelce is amazed that no photos have leaked from the big day.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026
  • Every guest who reaches the temple's 17th-century wooden stage is amazed by the view over the grounds and the city beyond.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of amazed
Adjective
  • Further stories illuminate emotional realities burrowed deep within enormously likeable characters, often moving the reader (or this reader anyway) to astonished tears.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • One that draws more approving thumbs-ups, creates more astonished grins, or pulls more phones from pockets for impromptu photographs and video—especially in stunning Verde Ermes metallic paint.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Definition of astonished
Adjective
  • One bewildered South African man said protesters had burst into his home and stolen the lunch from his plate.
    — Julie Bourdin, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of bewildered
Adjective
  • The order’s singling out of ibogaine, the only psychedelic mentioned by name, surprised analysts, given how much less research exists on it than on psilocybin or MDMA.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Is there anything that people would be surprised to know about you?
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprised
Adjective
  • Maxwell, a fiction editor at The New Yorker, drew upon his own awed discovery of France in 1948; the novel’s opening paragraphs show one of the protagonists weeping at the sight of the French shore.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • But credit Neill for both understanding the assignment and not quite settling for those awed stares of Spielbergian wonder.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of awed

Browse Nearby Words

open-mindedness
open-mouthed
openness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open-mouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open-mouthed. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on open-mouthed

Nglish: Translation of open-mouthed for Spanish Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All