SHELL-SHOCKED Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

shell-shocked

adjective

ˈshel-ˌshäkt

Definition of shell-shocked

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 shell-shocked Then, carbon-copy goals from Brittany Ratcliffe and Madison Mercado — who got on the end of crosses whipped in by Sofia Huerta in the 26th and 33rd minutes — saw the Current shell-shocked down 3-0 in the 33rd minute. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026 At halftime, as Duke’s players tersely ran back to the locker room with Siena ahead 43-32, the Blue Devils — and their extended traveling party — were shell-shocked. — Brendan Marks, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for shell-shocked

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell-shocked

Adjective

Nourishing, hydrating ceramides keep stressed, breakout-prone skin calm and balanced.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Nov. 2026
In stressed markets undergoing soul-searching about the long-term bullish thesis, prices often need to travel further to find buyers with conviction while the market action must disappoint dip-buyers to extinguish complacency.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of stressed

Adjective

But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Laiken Randolph appeared dazed, and possibly on drugs, officers remarked.

— Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of dazed

Adjective

For the first 12 minutes, the Bulls watched Brunson with the bewildered air of a student who forgot to study for a test.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of bewildered

Adjective

That, to my mind, is why Wiles seemed so stunned by the firestorm that erupted when her words appeared in my 10,000-word Vanity Fair series last December.

— Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
The scene is one of many standout moments that left audiences and Fielder himself both stunned and uncomfortable.

— Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of stunned

Adjective

Workers in uncomfortable gear can become distracted, struggle through demanding shifts, and lose confidence that their employer takes their safety seriously.

— Allison Anderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
Its opposition to intense Pluto could make a distracted response sting more than expected.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of distracted

Browse Nearby Words

shells

shell-shocked

shells out

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“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of shell-shocked

adjective

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