Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flabbergast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flabbergast are amaze, astonish, astound, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When would amaze be a good substitute for flabbergast?

The words amaze and flabbergast can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is astonish a more appropriate choice than flabbergast?

The meanings of astonish and flabbergast largely overlap; however, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When might astound be a better fit than flabbergast?

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

too astounded to respond

Where would surprise be a reasonable alternative to flabbergast?

In some situations, the words surprise and flabbergast are roughly equivalent. 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 flabbergast For Perry, these operations felt like the final step to closing out a weight loss journey that flabbergasted millions online. Angela Yang, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025 Gates, who once held Musk’s current position as the world’s wealthiest person, seems to find this hard-right turn flabbergasting. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025 Dozens of producer friends wrote to one another, flabbergasted that such a thing could happen. Cathy Schulman, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025 As the rational and oft-flabbergasted physician who narrates Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, Watson is the looking glass into Holmes’s intellectual superpowers. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flabbergast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flabbergast
Verb
  • What amazes me is how reading has affected not just me but so many others as well.
    Lynne Agress, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2025
  • While the dazzling auroras might’ve amazed our ancestors, the weak magnetic field intensified ultraviolet and cosmic radiation.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Coastal Mississippi is constantly surprising us, but one of its most delightful surprises is the fact that some of its beaches have white sand that rivals even Florida’s top spots.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
  • While watching car auctions together may surprise some, Kidman previously shared that Urban is a car enthusiast with Marie Claire Australia for the magazine's November 2020 issue.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps there is some potential for hypersonics here, but I would be shocked to ever see a satellite launched into orbit from a fighter jet.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
  • The incident, which saw a car veer across a packed street in the center of Liverpool and plough through crowds of supporters, shocked the city and the football world.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • While there, the delegates were given a tour of some of the Vatican’s collection and were astonished to see treasured relics stored thousands of miles away from the communities who once used them.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
  • From that first puck drop, Jackson was astonished by the speed and intensity of a playoff game compared with a regular-season game.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The Pacers hold a 2-0 series lead after stunning the Knicks at MSG in Games 1 and 2.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
  • Related article Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana Pacers stun New York Knicks in overtime to take Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals Siakam insisted, however, that he and his teammates were not getting distracted by the prospect of writing their names in franchise history.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The device startles seals hanging around salmon run obstacles and drives them away from the buffet.
    Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
  • The trailer opens with Kate (Moore) startled by the sudden appearance of her troubled daughter Claire (Sweeney) on her doorstep covered in rain and blood.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flabbergast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flabbergast. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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