1
as in stressed
suffering from high levels of physical and especially psychological stress
even after the long furlough, the returning soldiers still felt a little shell-shocked
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
shell-shocked survivors who were in dire need of every kind of help
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of shell-shocked
At halftime of Wednesday night’s game against Villanova at Finneran Pavilion, the UConn women’s basketball team looked shell-shocked.
—
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Despite being billed as the head and heart of the new and improved Tender, Henry actually freezes in the meeting with the regulator, shell-shocked by a single reference to his failure at Lumi.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026
In December 2023, content creator Harinder Singh claimed to have spoken to Webb's older brother, Kayden, who allegedly said that Ryker was healthy and safe, but that he'd been traumatized and shell-shocked during the immediate aftermath of the incident.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The former was shell-shocked by one of the worst offensive lines imaginable in 2021 and eventually flat-lined.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Quarterback Ty Simpson, who looked a little shell-shocked in Tallahassee, has looked much more comfortable throwing the ball.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
That likability should help appease an employee base which has become shell-shocked with cuts and layoffs over decades of mergers.
—Lillian Rizzo,alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
McCartney added, still visibly amused and a bit shell-shocked at their Ed Sullivan Show-era American reception.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
But what left investors shell-shocked was third quarter guidance that pegged revenues to be down 9 percent to 11 percent.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Despite being billed as the head and heart of the new and improved Tender, Henry actually freezes in the meeting with the regulator, shell-shocked by a single reference to his failure at Lumi.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026
In December 2023, content creator Harinder Singh claimed to have spoken to Webb's older brother, Kayden, who allegedly said that Ryker was healthy and safe, but that he'd been traumatized and shell-shocked during the immediate aftermath of the incident.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The former was shell-shocked by one of the worst offensive lines imaginable in 2021 and eventually flat-lined.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Quarterback Ty Simpson, who looked a little shell-shocked in Tallahassee, has looked much more comfortable throwing the ball.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
That likability should help appease an employee base which has become shell-shocked with cuts and layoffs over decades of mergers.
—Lillian Rizzo,alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
McCartney added, still visibly amused and a bit shell-shocked at their Ed Sullivan Show-era American reception.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
But what left investors shell-shocked was third quarter guidance that pegged revenues to be down 9 percent to 11 percent.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell-shocked
Adjective
-
Greenidge weaves her morality play, warning of the dangers of social media and lamenting the changes in human communication, into a family setting that’s economically stressed from the pandemic fallout.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Plants are also less stressed when divided in the spring because their roots can establish before hotter temperatures kick in.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Still, some songs can disrupt our dazed habit of barely listening and give us something to participate in.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The tragedy at first bewildered law enforcement in both states, as investigators were unsure why Miller traveled to Utah or why the three women were killed.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Immediately disoriented, confused and dizzy.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Current ride-share insurance minimums already leave many victims undercompensated and confused.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The stunned policemen opened the door.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The crowd erupted as Brady posed for photos, signed autographs and ripped packs alongside stunned fans.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And disrupted sleep can spell distracted or fatigued driving.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Gatz attributed the increases to excessive speed and distracted driving.—
Barbara Hoberock,
Oklahoma Voice,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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