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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 The Miami Hurricanes are at home, while the entire state of Indiana – save for some in West Lafayette – is content to abandon their homes to enjoy this unexpectedly stupefying playoff march. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026 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 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
  • Perhaps what amazed me the most was the breadth and the depth to which a general American public seemed to be at a tipping point around the exorbitant cost of health care and how cavernous the gap is between the one percent and the 99 percent.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But of the many falsehoods told by them, there was one which quite amazed me.
    — Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Video footage from an AP camera crew shows damage to the building, then stunned and wounded people emerging.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Suhey, 68, died in his sleep Saturday night, according to multiple teammates who were stunned.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • Rådström, a Swede, was surprised by the layers of hierarchy at the German company and the sheer volume of decisions that crossed her desk as CEO.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
  • That surprised some people inside UM because of Kadre’s friendship with John Miller, the president of Adidas North America.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • The astonished looks on his team-mates’ faces would underline that fact.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd in the picture was equally astonished while the event unfolded.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonish
Verb
  • Her characters appears to startle Jeanie in one photo, clad in a chic black and gold ensemble.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The unpredictable motion scares them off, startling them and throwing them off balance.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • After the sentencing, Lee's wife, Elizabeth Tang, told reporters there is no freedom of speech in Hong Kong and that the sentences would shock and anger many people.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Yemen’s government was shocked by slow Saudi response The Houthis have been attacking Saudi shipping on the Red Sea since declaring a blockade in July, as well as hitting oil infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia.
    — Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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