astonished 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈstä-nisht How to pronounce astonished (audio)
Definition of astonishednext
1
as in amazed
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise was astonished at seeing a cow wandering down Main Street

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wondering
filled with amazement or wonder grandparents astonished at how much their grandchildren had grown in the past year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

astonished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of astonish
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me

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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 astonished
Adjective
One that draws more approving thumbs-ups, creates more astonished grins, or pulls more phones from pockets for impromptu photographs and video—especially in stunning Verde Ermes metallic paint. — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026 Live, the 11-year-old actor shared his astonished reaction to getting the note. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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 Ice at a party doesn’t sound revolutionary today (think of how many tons of it that wedding at MSG must’ve used), but on this day in 1850, when waiters appeared carrying bottles of champagne on ice, guests—accustomed to warm wine—were astonished. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for astonished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonished
  1. amazed
  2. surprised
  3. stunned
  4. shocked
  5. bewildered
  6. startled
  7. horrified
Adjective
  • Experts are amazed to see such progress in the humanoid robot industry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • When ChatGPT came out in 2022, a lot of people were amazed at how human-like the bot was.
    — Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of amazed
Adjective
  • Others close to Lamb, such as his sister Maridale Powell, might have been less surprised.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • However, the largest drop in June occurred among prime-age workers, leaving several economists puzzled and surprised.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprised
Verb
  • Once broken, the enemy is stunned and vulnerable to a powerful, unique finisher attack.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Westlake is coming off an impressive triple OT win over Newbury Park, while Agoura stunned Saugus in Week 0.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • The man who was shocked was taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan with life-threatening injuries.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But something fascinating was happening behind the scenes, coinciding with the disaster that had sent Olin overseas and left her bandmates, Augustin and Nathan Slone — located in New York City — shocked.
    — Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • That bewildered shake of the head after Meyer's pitch in that video is not a rare occurrence for Raleigh this year.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • On Douban, a popular Chinese movie-review platform, viewers piled on with mocking and bewildered comments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • Of those who were injured, officials said that many were hurt while falling down or hitting themselves against furniture after being startled by the earthquake while sleeping.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
  • There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of a super restful sleep cycle, whether you are startled by the neighbor’s dog or an unwanted text message.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • When Tae-ha starts a fire that erupts into an explosion, a horrified Eun-sae begins to remember her life before amnesia.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In one early scene, a horrified Pam stares into her bathroom mirror, covered head to toe in blood.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Definition of horrified

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Cite this Entry

“Astonished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonished. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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