stunning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstə-niŋ How to pronounce stunning (audio)
Definition of stunningnext
1
as in amazing
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness we suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of the bottom-ranked team in the division

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wonderful
causing wonder or astonishment the stunning beauty of the star-filled sky on a cloudless night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in beautiful
very pleasing to look at how stunning the performers look in their costumes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stunning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stun
1
as in dazing
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow a powerful uppercut to the jaw stunned the boxer and sent him crashing to the canvas

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2
as in surprising
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

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 stunning
Adjective
And then general manager Les Snead pulled off another stunning deal for defensive end Myles Garrett, a two-time NFL defensive player of the year. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Fenix, at one point countered an avalanche Mexican destroyer attempt, stunning Penta and turning it around into a Mexican muscle buster. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
Footage of the fight shared online showed Williams punching Colón in the back of the head in the seventh round, apparently stunning him. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Margaret deploys this power to find Daniel and to free him from Noah and the WARDEX minions—essentially, by stunning them emotionally. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunning
  1. amazing
  2. wonderful
  3. beautiful
  4. dazing
  5. surprising
  6. startling
  7. astonishing
  8. lovely
Adjective
  • Is there an argument to be made that John Schneider is doing an amazing job this year amid injuries, tough breaks and high expectations from the Jays faithful?
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Looking down at planes below Working on the 105th floor, Dadakis said, was an amazing experience.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • Chief among Kvaratskhelia’s standout moments in a PSG shirt was his wonderful solo goal against Aston Villa in last year’s Champions League quarter-final.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Many wonderful and terrible things have happened in the 25 years since, some related to the 9/11 attacks, many not at all.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • The nicest of the quartet, Springfield features a large clubhouse, a beautiful practice area with an oversized putting green and a challenging 6,906-yard course that is hilly, woody and will ask you to hit lots of precise shots.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Forests that avoid the worst fire and drought impacts should still offer beautiful color, but the viewing window may be shorter.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of beautiful
Verb
  • Fairview came out throwing haymakers, dazing the Bruins in the early going.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of dazing
Verb
  • Human beings have an inconvenient habit of surprising us, and sometimes that surprise is the finding that matters most.
    — Rebecca Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • What went down Dickens shared a video of himself surprising the Nature Gurlz, a beloved group of women who meet up weekday mornings to bask in the great outdoors.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • Chelsea have lapses of startling vulnerability out of possession, and while Odegaard’s winner early in the second half was decorated by a sublime Havertz dummy, the move which led to it was far too simple to settle a game of this quality.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There are startling displays of what seem to be private moments, as when, at one point, Evans allows the crew to film him showering fully naked.
    — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • The astonishing social movements of the decade—particularly the black freedom struggle and the antiwar movement—could have produced a more durable sense of solidarity and collective possibilities.
    — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • One of the best actors working today, Coon essentially plays two different sides of Rita with astonishing range across these chronologies, portraying the past and the present of her character through distinctive markers.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • The café is tucked away in the heart of the garden—a lovely pit stop.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026
  • This is an exciting step forward for Eisenberg the director, who had a breakthrough a couple of years ago with the lovely A Real Pain, which earned co-star Kieran Culkin an Academy Award.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of lovely

Browse Nearby Words

stunners
stunning
stunningly
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Cite this Entry

“Stunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunning. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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