stuns

verb

present tense third-person singular of stun
1
as in dazes
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 amazes
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 stuns Designed by architect Bart Prince, this sculptural spot stuns with floor-to-ceiling windows and six viewing decks with impressive vistas of the Sandia Mountains. — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026 Paula Abdul stuns in neon orange for The Hollywood Reporter’s A-list Aesthetics event at Hotel Bel-Air on July 15 in Los Angeles. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 Set the scene This resort stuns, with magical panoramic views of the northern coastline of Crete. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Tabitha and Jade flee into the tunnels after an earthquake temporarily stuns the monsters, and Jade and his crew race to their vehicles to outrun the monsters that have come to the surface under the cover of this false night. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Laura Dern looks amazing in marabou feathers, Marissa Long stuns in sequins, and Chris Messina is also there. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2026 Torch Lake in Michigan stuns with its clear turquoise water, glacial origins, and iconic summer sandbar scene. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026 Trump's attack stuns the world. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 South Carolina stuns undefeated UConn 62-48, snapping the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak and advancing to the women’s NCAA championship game. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuns
  1. rocks
  2. amazes
  3. paralyzes
  4. shocks
  5. startles
  6. surprises
  7. astonishes
Verb
  • Keanu Reeves rocks an all-black look at the premiere of Madwoman’s Game at the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival on July 30 in Pomona, California.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But back inside, this M5 Pro MacBook rocks 24GB of unified memory and a 2TB SSD for all your files, programs, and work.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 29 July 2026
Definition of rocks
Verb
  • His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • This technology still amazes me.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
Definition of amazes
Verb
  • Fear, like ignorance, shuts our eyes to and paralyzes our trust in God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and unfailing love for His children, whereas the understanding of God’s ever-present goodness removes the fear that generates suffering.
    — André Kisonga, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026
  • These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of paralyzes
Verb
  • All the regulars head inside, but then a loud boom shocks viewers.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 July 2026
  • Finally, a mystical Rabbi arrives and shocks the king and queen by taking off all his clothing, getting under the table and crowing like a rooster.
    — Josh Penn Soskin, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of shocks
Verb
  • Missile warning startles Dubai Earlier on Friday, a missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch underscored the ongoing tensions in the region, following the attack on the cargo vessel and Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past few days.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of startles
Verb
  • Therapists also suggest talking honestly about debt, credit and any financial obligations one partner is bringing into the relationship, so nothing surprises the other person after the boxes are unpacked.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026
  • In my experience, what surprises visitors most is Kyoto’s ability to turn seasonality into an almost theatrical experience.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of surprises
Verb
  • More than 42,000 of those pieces were found over just the past eight years of excavation, a pace that astonishes even the researchers leading the work.
    — Ryan Brennan April 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
  • His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.
    — WWD Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of astonishes

Browse Nearby Words

stunningly
stuns
stunt
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Cite this Entry

“Stuns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuns. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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