1
as in surprise
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
As expected, the box-office champ was another superhero actioner, but the real stunner was the second-place finish for the low-budget comedy.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in queen
an attractive woman
Not only is she smart, she's a real stunner.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 stunner
Orchids might seem like finicky houseplants, but with the proper care, that grocery store stunner can bloom for years and years.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Wander through a glorious garden Even in winter, the Bay Area’s premier gardens are stunners.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
But the stunner was when North Crowley was added to Duncanville’s district.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Just look at last February, when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an all-time stunner by acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the night.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stunner
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Wander through a glorious garden Even in winter, the Bay Area’s premier gardens are stunners.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
But the stunner was when North Crowley was added to Duncanville’s district.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Just look at last February, when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an all-time stunner by acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the night.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stunner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunner
Noun
-
His regular customers did not mention anything — not a surprise from clientele who know not to share classified information — but Esparza has been around long enough to sense that the Marines who were coming in to replace gear like sleeping bags and warm clothing were preparing to ship out.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The jacket layers easily under a winter coat, works well on its own in spring and fall, and is water-resistant for surprise rain.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For consistency, all of the prices reflect queen sizes.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Mabel befriends dam-building King George (Bobby Moynihan), runs afoul of an insect queen (Meryl Streep) and meets a ton of critters, from an emoji-loving lizard to a professional killer-for-hire shark.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone in the East who shivered through this winter could be in for a shock at the outcome.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
While the first waves of shock and sadness rolled through the city, journalists, historians and public figures reached into the past to help make sense of this week's violence.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Zeus found out that Orion was fooling around with his daughter Artemis, the goddess of the moon.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Rika spends most of her days toiling in a frozen-foods warehouse, but her new gig is in a museum, where she has been hired to make conversation, in Latin, with an ancient Roman statue of the goddess Venus.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That’s not to say there isn’t a company-wide stupor after last week’s bombshells.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The 2010 discovery that early humans and Neanderthals once encountered one another and had babies was a scientific bombshell that electrified the field of human origins.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Watching the team work the grill adds to the beauty of what ends up on your plate.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond their beauty, ground cover plants offer practical benefits, including choking out weeds, preventing soil erosion, and maintaining moisture.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That鈥檚 a jolt to the senators in both parties working on a housing reform bill that鈥檚 now on the floor, which also includes a stab at the president鈥檚 priority of cutting down institutional investors buying up single-family homes.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The cheese sauce gets a jolt of heat from serrano peppers and its thick and creamy texture from the addition of rice flour.—
Restaurant Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This weekend, fans will also get an eyeful during the NBA All-Star Weekend.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The View producer Brian Teta got an eyeful — as did viewers at home — when three cohosts motioned toward their privates during a discussion about childbirth.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunner. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
