Definition

1. 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

1. overcome with amazement
   • This boggles the mind!