flabbergasted
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: * Utterly astonished, amazed, or shocked: The state of being so surprised or taken aback that one is temporarily unable to speak or react. It describes a very strong, often overwhelming, feeling of surprise.
Usage
- Flabbergasted is used to describe a person's reaction to unexpected, shocking, or unbelievable news or events.
- It is a strong, informal word that emphasizes the intensity of the surprise.
- It is often used with verbs like , , , or .
Examples
Advanced Usage
- To be flabbergasted at/by something: This is the most common construction.
- We were flabbergasted at the sheer size of the monument.
- She was flabbergasted by his rude comment.
- To leave someone flabbergasted: To cause someone to be flabbergasted.
- The judge's unusual verdict left the courtroom flabbergasted.
Variants and Related Words
- Flabbergast (verb, rare): To astonish greatly. (e.g., )
- Flabbergasting (adjective): Causing great astonishment. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Astonished: Filled with sudden and great wonder or surprise.
- Astounded: Shocked with wonder.
- Dumbfounded / Dumbstruck: So shocked as to be unable to speak.
- Stunned: Dazed or bewildered from shock.
- Thunderstruck: As if hit by lightning; extremely surprised.
Idioms
- To be at a loss for words: A common result of being flabbergasted, meaning to be so surprised you cannot think of anything to say.
- I was so flabbergasted by the news that I was at a loss for words.
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