Thesaurus results for FLABBERGAST

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

flabbergast

verb

ˈfla-bər-ˌgast

Definition of flabbergast

as in to amaze

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 On Sunday night, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was left flabbergasted by the situation. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 These not-so-genial genitors are hounding hiring managers, shadowing their kid’s Zoom calls off-camera, and even applying for jobs on their behalf, per the paper’s reporting, leaving their employers flabbergasted. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 The Man of Steel star was flabbergasted by the entire incident. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026 Hockney was flabbergasted by the asking price. — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for flabbergast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flabbergast

Verb

After dressing up as an anthropomorphic worm, an incredibly realistic ET, and a chimpanzee complete with prosthetic facial features and ears, the supermodel is ready to amaze us once again.

— Alfredo Toriello, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
The 2026 guide has 29 new gems; that number includes a few places that had formerly dropped off the list but now return, having amazed us once again.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of amaze

Verb

During Tuesday’s board meeting, several residents spoke about being surprised by high bills and called for an audit of the Department of Water and Power.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
The result surprised the researchers because nuclear spins are generally much less responsive to external electrical signals than electron spins.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprise

Verb

The company has sought to significantly reduce costs in Africa since the MultiChoice buyout, with streamer Showmax discontinued earlier this year in a move that shocked the local industry.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
At school the next day, students are still shocked by what happened.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shock

Verb

Frelick tied the score with his first home run in three months, Pratt hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to make up for his earlier error and the Brewers stunned the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-0 World Series lead.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stun

Verb

Art Nichols, a kidney recipient who had his transplant operation performed at Northwestern Medicine in September, was astonished to learn that his organ donor was his daughter, Natalie.

— Jane Miller, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Illustration by Ximo Abadía The Broadway musical astonishes us by its continued existence.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of astonish

Verb

Surveillance footage & evidence Police reviewed surveillance footage in the area, which showed the two gunshot victims walking, then appear startled, according to court records.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
The parents admit to some corporal punishment, but of a mild sort—the kind that might startle a child but which wouldn’t do bodily harm.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of startle

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“Flabbergast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flabbergast. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flabbergast

verb

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