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
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
Global investors were shell-shocked on Tuesday after President Donald Trump struck another blow at the Federal Reserve's independence, caught between the concerns over politicisation of policy and the payoffs for markets.
—Kevin Buckland, USA Today, 27 Aug. 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
After four years of heavy subsidies and easing of permitting restrictions under the Biden presidency, those industries must be feeling a bit shell-shocked over the steady stream of bad news coming at them from Washington, DC since January 20.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
These are the same Oilers who gave the Vegas Golden Knights life with a last-second own-goal in Game 3 of the second round, a result that could have shell-shocked them.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 15 June 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
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
Global investors were shell-shocked on Tuesday after President Donald Trump struck another blow at the Federal Reserve's independence, caught between the concerns over politicisation of policy and the payoffs for markets.
—Kevin Buckland, USA Today, 27 Aug. 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
After four years of heavy subsidies and easing of permitting restrictions under the Biden presidency, those industries must be feeling a bit shell-shocked over the steady stream of bad news coming at them from Washington, DC since January 20.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
These are the same Oilers who gave the Vegas Golden Knights life with a last-second own-goal in Game 3 of the second round, a result that could have shell-shocked them.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 15 June 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
-
At the same time, the FAA has fielded an increasing number of complaints from pilots who are reporting that individual air traffic controllers have been less responsive than usual or appear more stressed, Duffy said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Infested plants are usually too stressed to bloom well.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Glancing around the standing-room-only party, filled with joyful hugs and happy chatter as guests drank spicy margaritas and nibbled on fries in paper cones printed with quotes from the book, a dazed Brown smiled.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In one of the film’s least subtle moments, a dazed Bruce is startled to attention.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Instead, a bewildered stranger answers the door.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Prince Harry's hat choice confused fans, who believed the royal should have been rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays due to Canada’s link to the United Kingdom.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
George Catts, the city council’s agricultural commissioner who led the parade atop his horse, was confused.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The camera pans to show Drake viewing the balance with a stunned look on his face.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
-
When the former fed asked him how the script was proceeding, he was met with stunned silence.—
Steve Belanger,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The entrepreneur was seemingly distracted and disengaged to the point where Snoop had to call her attention back.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Better, but invites distracted glances with every notification.—
Li Goldstein,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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