stupefy

verb

ˈstü-pə-ˌfī How to pronounce stupefy (audio)
Definition of stupefynext
as in to amaze
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected stupefied by the ruling that he could not compete because he missed the qualifying age by two days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 stupefy British explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett, who wandered the Amazon for 22 years at the beginning of the 20th century before vanishing without a trace, wrote that the breath of the anaconda stupefied its prey. — Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026 Dark times shade even darker, and yet through it all, in ways both uplifting and stupefying, life goes on. — Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025 Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone‘s doom-laden black comedy-thriller Bugonia stupefied and delighted the Venice Film Festival on Thursday night, drawing a rousing six-minute standing ovation after its world premiere inside the Italian water city’s Sala Grande cinema. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 The popularity Nirvana gained at stupefying speed and unmanageable proportions in 1991 is impossible to replicate in the culture and music industry of 2025. — Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stupefy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupefy
  1. amaze
  2. stun
  3. surprise
  4. astonish
  5. startle
  6. shock
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
  • Just before halftime, van Persie slipped past the Spanish defensive line to receive a long-range pass from teammate Daley Blind and looped the ball over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a first-time diving header that amazed the audience.
    — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Narwhals have been observed using them to stun small Arctic cod while hunting.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Many in Hollywood and beyond were left stunned by news of the passing of multifaceted performer Hayden Panettiere at age 36, as reported Sunday night.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • The result surprised the team because semiconductor materials are generally highly sensitive to impurities.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • If Dern gets on top of Robertson, though, the fight could be over, and a submission for Dern wouldn’t surprise me.
    — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • Trump was astonished to see Cohn’s name in the tabloids several times a week.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Having walked through factory floors, presented in boardrooms across five continents and coached leaders through every wave of disruption automation could throw at them, I am astonished at how fast AI adoption is currently escalating.
    — Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of astonish
Verb
  • Preconceptions, assumptions, and advance knowledge in the viewing public are regarded as impediments to the capacity of the tale to surprise, startle, or transport.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes workers would be startled by the sight of a machine moving by itself and realize it was being controlled by someone in Turkey.
    — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • Kenan Thompson, her co-star on All That, was shocked by the news and shared a photo of the late actress online in a touching tribute.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Prune only about a third at a time to avoid shocking the plant; stagger cuts over time.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of shock

Browse Nearby Words

stupefies
stupefy
stupefying
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Cite this Entry

“Stupefy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupefy. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stupefy for Spanish Speakers

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