dumbstricken
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: - Struck dumb with astonishment and surprise: Being in a state of such great shock or amazement that one is temporarily unable to speak or react.
Usage
The word "dumbstricken" describes a person's reaction to something extremely surprising, shocking, or unbelievable. It emphasizes a complete, momentary loss for words due to overwhelming emotion. It is typically used as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like was, stood, felt).
Examples
- The audience was dumbstricken by the magician's final, impossible trick.
- She stood dumbstricken at the sight of the destruction.
- He was dumbstricken when he heard he had won the award.
Advanced Usage
- "to be rendered dumbstricken": To be caused to become speechless with shock.
- The jury was rendered dumbstricken by the defendant's sudden confession.
Variants and Related Words
- Dumbfounded (adj): Greatly astonished or amazed. (A more common variant with the same core meaning).
- Thunderstruck (adj): Extremely surprised or shocked. (Similar in intensity, often with a connotation of being struck by a powerful force).
- Flabbergasted (adj): Extremely surprised. (Similar meaning, sometimes with a slightly more informal tone).
- Speechless (adj): Temporarily unable to speak, often due to strong emotion. (A key component of being dumbstricken).
Synonyms
- Astonished: Filled with sudden wonder or surprise.
- Stunned: So shocked that one is temporarily unable to react.
- Aghast: Filled with horror or shock.
Antonyms
- Unfazed: Not disconcerted or perturbed.
- Unimpressed: Not feeling admiration or respect.
- Expectant: Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen.
Idioms and Phrases
- Struck dumb: Rendered silent by shock or amazement. (This phrase is the conceptual basis for "dumbstricken").
- The news struck her dumb.
Adjective
- as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
- a circle of policement stood dumbfounded by her denial of having seen the accident
- the flabbergasted aldermen were speechless
- was thunderstruck by the news of his promotion