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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

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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
This game offers an opportunity for Oregon to reassert itself as a title contender two weeks after its stunning 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State. — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 But a new measurement of the primordial helium-4 abundance, published in September 2026, has reached stunning precision, providing information about the universe during BBN at a level of detail never before known. — Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 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
  • The half-day Istanbul tour was amazing, with a visit to Zeyrek Mosque, exploring the Basilica Cistern, and wandering the Spice Market, alive with the most fragrant foodstuffs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The ubiquitous carbon fiber looks amazing, of course, from the wide front intake to the active-aero winglets, fairings, the seat subframe, and even the license plate holder hanging off the tail.
    — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • Reclaiming the work of women selling fish, and the word that was an insult but is now a beautiful brand, is a wonderful turn of phrase and time, to us.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But De Santis is also wonderful at the end of the day, when the sun sets and Milan slowly begins to wind down.
    — Emma Bocchi, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • Belugas are beautiful, mystical creatures; anyone proximate to them would feel their loss acutely.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Set the scene Beyond the majestic main building, which sits on one of the endless curves of the Amalfi road, there are two new villas in addition to an older one, the beautiful Romeo e Giulietta.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 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
  • But the speed at which the conversation around the film turned from being about the art to being about the commerce was startling to him.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
  • An absent father—mourning a mother—a startling lack of siblings but a plethora of cousins—exile from her community.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • That’s not to say anything of the sort is guaranteed soon — single events are never guaranteed this far out — but there are reasons to take this El Niño seriously thanks to just how astonishing some of the numbers are.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Doing so three consecutive games would be astonishing, but the sportsbooks don’t necessarily put it past them.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • Why would anyone want to destroy lovely old houses, the same houses that made Kensington so desirable, and replace them with buildings that resembled a pile of washing machines 30 floors high?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Their climactic scenes near the end, once all the obstacles have been removed, are lovely — and not just because Austen’s prose in their outcome is so indestructible.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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