stun

verb

ˈstən How to pronounce stun (audio)
Definition of stunnext
1
as in to daze
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

Relevance
2
as in to amaze
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 stun But first, welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham stuns in a backless halter top and then surpasses Caitlin Clark in social media followers. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 One plaintiff, a 600-pound 15-year-old, acknowledged gorging at McDonald’s daily but was stunned by his rapidly expanding girth. — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026 New Zealand stunned South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday and drew first blood in their historic four-test series. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 So when Lily stepped out of a cab and told Marshall his dad had died of a heart attack, we were stunned and cried right along with the devastated couple. — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stun
  1. daze
  2. amaze
  3. paralyze
  4. surprise
  5. rock
  6. shock
  7. hit
  8. startle
Verb
  • Despite looking dazed, Guerrero scampered home to tie the game at 1-1.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • When the Knicks won, Berns was dazed.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Definition of daze
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Clancy jumped out of a window after strangling the children to death and was paralyzed in the fall.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Clancy is now partially paralyzed due to her suicide attempt and is being held at Tewksbury hospital.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • Ramirez-Smith, whose law firm is located in Nampa, Canyon County’s largest city, wasn’t surprised by how closely the Canyon County probation department was working with ICE.
    — Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One person not surprised by Yancy’s win was Lauren Beth Gash, the founding chair of the Tenth Congressional District Democrats.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • His music, a blend of charismatic and electrifying punk and post-punk, provided the hard-rocking moment of the entire three-and-a-half-hour evening.
    — David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Roan later took to the stage in a purple miniskirt ensemble, rocking a bob.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of rock
Verb
  • The raid shocked the community, leading to low attendance at the Wilder School District the day after the raid, according to reporting from the Idaho Statesman.
    — Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The news shocked scientists and engineers across NASA missions, who were suddenly dealt a dose of uncertainty as their job security teetered in political limbo.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of shock
Verb
  • Dramatic footage shows a torrent of water hitting at the Nepal-China border.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Parton earned dozens of top 10 country hits, and her professional ambitions grew along with her career.
    — Jewly Hight, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • This horror movie mostly just smelled of fake fog from a community theater production and occasionally you were startled by random bursts of air, once again pulling you from the events on screen.
    — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of startle

Browse Nearby Words

stumpy
stun
stung
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All