astounding 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈstau̇n-diŋ How to pronounce astounding (audio)
Definition of astoundingnext
1
as in amazing
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness the astounding sight of their cat returning home after having been missing for two years

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment experiencing the astounding sight of the aurora borealis for the first time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

astounding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of astound
as in stunning
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected it astounds me that you flew all the way out here just for my birthday

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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 astounding
Adjective
The lack of awareness of the dangers of doing so is astounding. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Prioritize consistency over wins The Canucks played just about 4,000 five-on-five minutes last season and spent an astounding 1,750 minutes trailing. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 The day marked their first day of high school and an astounding Hail Mary comeback for the Catholic school wrecked by a tornado June 11. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 This fall, Hargitay returns for an astounding 28th season as Det. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for astounding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astounding
  1. amazing
  2. astonishing
  3. stunning
  4. surprising
  5. wonderful
  6. shocking
  7. startling
  8. miraculous
Adjective
  • Christina has amazing taste and loves color but also has a sense of restraint.
    — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For all the robots’ amazing (if unsettling) feats, let’s be real—their hijinks are too funny not to watch on repeat.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • The victory extended trainer Graham Motion’s astonishing summer stakes streak at Del Mar to eight wins since 2022.
    — Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Correspondent Lee Cowan looks back at the astonishing career of the queen of country music.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of astonishing
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
Definition of stunning
Adjective
  • For something with only 256 pixels to play with, people have found a surprising number of things to put on them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • Nature aside, Cape Town boasts a wonderful juxtaposition of old world architecture and contemporary design across its vibrant neighborhoods.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Both films had wonderful ensembles, ingenious writing and an unmistakable sense of occasion.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Verb
  • In 1988, 27-year-old Japanese American graphic artist Karen Toshima was killed by a stray bullet during a gang confrontation on Broxton Avenue, shocking Angelenos who had treated gun violence as a problem largely confined to poor parts of the city.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday June 29, a bomb exploded on the doorstep of Yermolaiev’s luxury apartment in Monaco, gravely injuring the Ukrainian millionaire and shocking residents of the wealthy city state.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • The Warren Court’s relative respect for federal laws was thus noticeable but not startling.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Most notable were the startling bear signs, alerting us to the presence of Asian black bears in the area.
    — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • Over the next two decades, Evergrande built many of the homes, office blocks and urban structures that powered China’s miraculous economic growth.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Morgan suffered a traumatic brain injury during the crash and was in the hospital for months, but has made a miraculous recovery.
    — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of miraculous

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Cite this Entry

“Astounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astounding. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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