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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stun
After scratching her ticket, she was stunned, the player told lottery officials.
—
Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
Big Boca Performances Boca Juniors stunned the world by going 2-0 up against Benfica in their opening fixture.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Next up, Tyla stunned in a vintage Roberto Cavalli dress at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 23 June 2025
Charlotte had stunned the Canucks with a goal at the 8:22 mark of the first period, and the game was tied 1-1 entering the final 20 minutes.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stun
Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
Big Boca Performances Boca Juniors stunned the world by going 2-0 up against Benfica in their opening fixture.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Next up, Tyla stunned in a vintage Roberto Cavalli dress at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 23 June 2025
Charlotte had stunned the Canucks with a goal at the 8:22 mark of the first period, and the game was tied 1-1 entering the final 20 minutes.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stun
Verb
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The video, which features Peng battling with strong winds and then looking dazed and frostbitten above the clouds, was first posted on Chinese video-sharing App Douyin, the country’s version of TikTok.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
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Upon returning to Sydney, Mackey and JD both looked dazed, whereas Blue (Mavournee Hazel) made a most unexpected discovery in her highly secure flat.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In 2024 one woman amazed the internet with the results after she was warned not to paint her house white, only for the results to shock people who were against it at first.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
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The way 16 different emotions can flit across his face in a single moment continually surprises, amazes and confounds us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Trump deserves credit for ignoring the voices in Washington who counsel inaction out of an understandable but often paralyzing fear of unintended consequences.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
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To all who saw Iran as a behemoth, were daunted by its deterrence and paralyzed by its threats, these are days of reckoning.—
HUSSEIN AGHA,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Verb
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In the past, she has been surprised by the condition of upholstered pieces at estate sales upon taking them outside.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
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Our patients speak all these languages and occasionally surprise us with more, such as French or Bangla.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Two seagulls rode the air with outstretched wings, rocking side to side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2025
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As Tyler Durden, Pitt struts with a cigarette in his mouth, rocking his sunglasses and trademark jackets.—
Derek Scancarelli,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Dangerous enough to raise the stakes, but not too gruesome to shock young viewers.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
5 July 2025
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There have been nearly 2,000 episodes of the Real Housewives franchise at this point, so for these women to still find new ways to shock me is beyond remarkable.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Bregman hit 11 home runs in 226 plate appearances, a rate of one every 20.5 at bats.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Earlier, in the fourth, Chisholm hit his fourth homer in his last five games.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Your trash schedule might not be top of mind this Independence Day between going to fireworks displays, making a last-minute run to the grocery store or getting startled by loud booms.—
Eleanor Nash
July 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2025
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According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stun. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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