flabbergast
/'flæbəgɑ:st/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To overwhelm with shock, surprise, or wonder; to astonish someone so greatly that they are momentarily speechless or unable to react.
Usage
- The verb "flabbergast" is used to describe the action of causing extreme astonishment. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person who is astonished).
- It is often used in passive constructions (e.g., "I was flabbergasted") to describe the state of being astonished.
- The tone is informal and emphatic, suggesting a level of surprise beyond ordinary amazement.
Examples
- Active Voice:
- The magician's final trick completely flabbergasted the entire audience.
- Her sudden resignation flabbergasted her colleagues.
- Passive Voice (Common):
- We were utterly flabbergasted by the generous gift.
- He stood there, flabbergasted, unable to form a sentence.
Advanced Usage
- "to be flabbergasted at/by something": This is the standard prepositional structure used with the passive form.
- The committee was flabbergasted at the sheer scale of the proposal.
- I am still flabbergasted by his audacity.
Variants and Related Words
- Flabbergasted (adjective): The state of being extremely surprised.
- She had a flabbergasted expression on her face.
- Flabbergasting (adjective): Causing extreme astonishment.
- The news was absolutely flabbergasting.
Synonyms
- Astonish: To fill with sudden and overpowering surprise.
- Astound: To overwhelm with amazement.
- Stun: To shock or astonish to the point of temporary paralysis.
- Boggle the mind (idiom): To be astonishing or hard to comprehend.
Antonyms
- Bore: To weary by dullness or tediousness.
- Expect: To regard as likely to happen.
Related Idioms
- Boggle the mind: To be astonishing or difficult to grasp. This is a close conceptual synonym often used in similar contexts.
- The complexity of the universe boggles the mind. (Compare to: The complexity of the universe is flabbergasting.)
Verb
- overcome with amazement
- This boggles the mind!