STUNNING Synonyms: 314 Similar and Opposite Words

stunning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstə-niŋ

Definition of stunning

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at how stunning the performers look in their costumes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stunning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in surprising

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 stunning

Adjective

His front door opened onto a popular boardwalk filled with locals and visitors taking in the stunning views. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026 Despite their stunning ensembles, their most important accessory was their obvious connection, shown through affectionate hugs, smiles, knowing glances, and mutual support. — Alessia Amorosini, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 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

Adjective

That’s from interaction with amazing creatives, amazing writers who have different perspectives.

— Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Everything about the show was amazing and just a joyous occasion and one that will go down in music history.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of amazing

Adjective

The pom-pom sandals at Givenchy were wonderful, fun, unexpected and exactly what fashion lovers are looking for from a spring runway show.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Expect to see rare bottles pulled from the shelves and all manner of weird and wonderful concoctions offered up from the menu and from their encyclopedic knowledge of drinks.

— Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of wonderful

Adjective

The Panthers set up 48 yards from pay dirt and then, a handful of plays later, Young placed a beautiful pass into the hands of a wide-open Tommy Tremble for a touchdown — and also placed the nail in the game’s proverbial coffin.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
About half of Faux’s dining room, on my visits, seemed to be occupied by the young and beautiful, perhaps strategizing, over moules bouillabaisse, when to move the party to the bar downstairs.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Verb

After years of buying and selling horses, Casse knows the business will keep surprising him.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Still, there are layers to how the 24-year-old has carried himself in the big leagues since surprising his way onto the Oilers roster.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprising

Adjective

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Holcomb combines a startling precociousness with a moxie that has already shattered expectations.

— Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
While the numbers are startling, Ohtani's at-bats suggest something isn't right.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of startling

Adjective

At Garth Greenan, where more than forty of Drexler’s paintings and drawings from the sixties were on display, I was struck, once again, by the astonishing freshness and psychological bite of her work.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Chelsea 2026-27 rank second on that list, trailing only Liverpool’s astonishing start to their title-winning 2019-20 campaign.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of astonishing

Adjective

Opposite the magnificent eighteenth-century Grand Théatre, the 150-room Regent Grand perfectly mirrors the aristocratic elegance of this lovely city, thanks to the exquisite interiors of designer Jacques Garcia.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Amazon includes eight different color choices in this sale, from the lovely Chilled Lilac or Dewdrop Mint, all the way to the basic white or black options.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of lovely

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stunners

stunning

stunningly

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“Stunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunning. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stunning

adjective

verb

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