Synonym Chooser

How does the verb astonish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of astonish are amaze, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When is amaze a more appropriate choice than astonish?

While the synonyms amaze and astonish are close in meaning, amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is it sensible to use astound instead of astonish?

While in some cases nearly identical to astonish, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to astonish?

In some situations, the words flabbergast and astonish are roughly equivalent. However, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

In what contexts can surprise take the place of astonish?

The meanings of surprise and astonish largely overlap; however, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

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 astonish When Bethesda released Starfield in 2023, many gamers were astonished by its attention to reality. Cody Greco, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025 Bet the entire Chase Bank on Scherzinger, who astonishes and has the most thrilling voice since Streisand. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 June 2025 Other Instagram users were astonished at how Yasmina managed to reach that height on her own. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025 Assessment results often land in the middle range, with leaders frequently astonished by how much room there is for improvement. Esmt Berlin, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for astonish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonish
Verb
  • This creator, in the true sense of the word, adds a touch here and there, drapes or lets fall the folds of a cape or a huge collar, borrows from all the epochs of fashion and interprets them all, and in the sum total, never fails to amaze us with his exquisite audacity.
    Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 7 July 2025
  • The Teton Range, covered in powder, amazes as far as the eye can see.
    DeMarco Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Frantic runs burst through the music, while the last movement surprises with its sudden force.
    Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 11 July 2025
  • Customers in New York City, Green Bay and Austin, Texas, might even be surprised with a free lip balm duo at their local cafe, Panera said.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The Princess of Wales also stunned in a gold cape dress for the No Time to Die James Bond premiere in 2021 and for a 2023 State Visit by the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
  • Meta Platforms, under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has ignited a fierce battle for artificial intelligence (AI) talent, offering compensation packages that have stunned Silicon Valley and the global tech industry.
    Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Dangerous enough to raise the stakes, but not too gruesome to shock young viewers.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 July 2025
  • There have been nearly 2,000 episodes of the Real Housewives franchise at this point, so for these women to still find new ways to shock me is beyond remarkable.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Your trash schedule might not be top of mind this Independence Day between going to fireworks displays, making a last-minute run to the grocery store or getting startled by loud booms.
    Eleanor Nash July 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025
  • According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Astonish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonish. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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