astounding
/əs'taundiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Causing overwhelming astonishment or amazement: Describes something so surprising, impressive, or shocking that it is difficult to fully comprehend or believe.
- Stunning or bewildering: Refers to an effect that can stun, overwhelm, or strike one dumb with wonder.
Usage
The adjective "astounding" is used to describe a fact, event, achievement, or quality that is remarkably and powerfully surprising. It expresses a very high degree of amazement, stronger than words like "surprising" or "interesting." It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "be" or "seem").
Examples
- Attributive use (before a noun):
- The magician performed an astounding trick that left the audience speechless.
- Scientists made an astounding discovery about the deep ocean.
- Predicative use (after a linking verb):
- The sheer scale of the ancient ruins was astounding.
- It is astounding how quickly technology has evolved.
Advanced Usage
- "find something astounding": To react with great surprise upon learning or observing something.
- I find it astounding that he managed to learn the language in just three months.
- Used to emphasize the extreme nature of a following fact or clause.
- With astounding speed, the rescue team reached the stranded hikers.
Variants and Related Words
- Astound (verb): To overwhelm with amazement; to astonish greatly.
- The final revelation in the movie will astound you.
- Astoundingly (adverb): In an astounding manner.
- The project was completed astoundingly fast.
Synonyms
- Astonishing: Very surprising.
- Staggering: So great, shocking, or surprising as to be difficult to believe.
- Stupefying: Making someone unable to think or feel properly due to shock or amazement.
- Bewildering: Confusing and surprising.
Antonyms
- Expected: Regarded as likely to happen.
- Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
- Unimpressive: Not inspiring respect or admiration.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- "Nothing short of astounding": Used to emphasize that something is absolutely amazing.
- Her recovery from the injury was nothing short of astounding.
Adjective
- so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm
- such an enormous response was astonishing
- an astounding achievement
- the amount of money required was staggering
- suffered a staggering defeat
- the figure inside the boucle dress was stupefying
- bewildering or striking dumb with wonder