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
Example Sentences
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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
-
And that can be comforting in today’s stressed world, says Joseph Sgambatti, 37, a design journalist in New York City.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
-
All the parts fit well in this sometimes surreal, sometimes darkly humorous journey into the crumbling mind of a stressed woman.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When Ron takes a seat, the chair falls out from under him and breaks, leaving him dazed and sprawled on the floor.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Philadelphia’s defense seemed dazed and ill-prepared for Dart’s precision, composure and dual-threat ability.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Wounded and bewildered, Theresa vows—silently—never to have that feeling again, never to be at anyone else’s mercy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
As Friday’s stabbing incident involving NFL alum Mark Sanchez slowly comes into focus, the team at Fox Sports seems to be just as bewildered as the rest of us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Officers were apparently confused.—
Aida Alami,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
One of the artists looked at me a little confused.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The stunned silence after her answer kind of says it all.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
What has left me completely stunned is that Labubus are on sale, too—just not on Amazon.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The main culprits are well known – speeding, alcohol, distracted driving, and the simple failure to wear a seatbelt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
While Polarity, Greg, Sam, and Jordan keep Cipher distracted, Emma, Cate, and Annabeth go looking for her.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Symptoms can include vomiting more than three times a day, feeling constantly dizzy and lightheaded and losing weight.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Traditionally, Sean Payton’s teams deploy a revolving personnel carousel that can leave opposing defensive coordinators dizzy.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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