stun

verb

ˈstən How to pronounce stun (audio)
Definition of stunnext
1
as in to daze
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow a powerful uppercut to the jaw stunned the boxer and sent him crashing to the canvas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to amaze
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news of their boss's termination stunned the staff

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 stun Haaland was the hero again in the last 16, scoring twice late on as the Norwegians stunned five-time World Cup winners Brazil 2-1. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026 Johnson confirmed he was stunned by the Mavericks choosing him. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026 Marta’s long-range strike from well outside the box stunned goalkeeper Marisa Jordan for the 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Jennifer Lopez stunned in a sheer lace naked illusion gown in Paris on July 10. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stun
  1. daze
  2. amaze
  3. paralyze
  4. surprise
  5. rock
  6. shock
  7. hit
  8. startle
Verb
  • Fatu was dazed and Reigns speared him through the table.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • When the Knicks won, Berns was dazed.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Definition of daze
Verb
  • Just before halftime, van Persie slipped past the Spanish defensive line to receive a long-range pass from teammate Daley Blind and looped the ball over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a first-time diving header that amazed the audience.
    — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
  • For the majority of viewers who held out for the subscription streaming release rather than paying to rent or purchase, this news is amaze, amaze, amaze.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Once injected with venom, the prey is paralyzed and drained of bodily fluids.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • The storm paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine and even some parts of Canada from March 12 to March 14.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • But to go seven years without making the playoffs would have surprised any skeptic back then — if such skeptics even existed.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Guests are often surprised by dishes like the Razor Clams Casino and our Pistachio Pesto Pasta.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • The deaths of three people in a boat crash on Lake Pepin over the weekend have rocked the small town situated in southeastern Minnesota on the Mississippi River.
    — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Mindy Kaling rocks a butter yellow outfit outside Good Morning America on July 9 in New York City.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of rock
Verb
  • Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Lam’s account shocked many people in the former British colony, which Beijing promised would maintain its Western-style civil liberties for 50 years after its return to China in 1997.
    — Kanis Leung, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of shock
Verb
  • However, without strong spending activity at home, a heavy reliance on exports makes China particularly vulnerable to a reversal in AI sentiment, which would hit sales of high-tech products.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Lanageliers started the game at catcher and hit third in the lineup while the American League won a largely uneventful affair, 4-0, at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House.
    — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of startle

Browse Nearby Words

stumpy
stun
stung
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Cite this Entry

“Stun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stun. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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