openmouthed
Definition
Adjective: 1. Having the mouth open in surprise or wonder: Describes a person whose mouth is agape due to being astonished, shocked, or amazed by something. 2. Characterized by a look of astonishment: Often implies a state of being so surprised that one is momentarily speechless or transfixed.
Usage
The adjective "openmouthed" is used to describe a person's reaction, typically to something unexpected, shocking, or incredible. It emphasizes a physical, involuntary expression of surprise. - It is commonly used predicatively (after a linking verb like was, stood, sat) or attributively (before a noun). - It describes a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.
Examples
- The audience was openmouthed during the magician's final trick.
- She stared, openmouthed, at the unexpected news on the screen.
- His openmouthed astonishment was evident to everyone in the room.
- They listened in openmouthed silence as he told his incredible story.
Advanced Usage
- "openmouthed in astonishment": A common collocation that reinforces the cause of the surprise.
- The children were openmouthed in astonishment at the size of the dinosaur skeleton.
- Used to describe collective reactions.
- The openmouthed crowd watched as the spaceship descended.
Variants and Related Words
- Agape (adj.): Having the mouth wide open, especially in surprise or wonder. (A close synonym, though slightly more formal or literary.)
- Gobsmacked (adj., informal): Utterly astonished or shocked. (Implies a stronger, more colloquial sense of surprise, often leaving one speechless.)
- Flabbergasted (adj.): Extremely surprised or shocked. (Focuses more on the internal feeling than the physical expression.)
Synonyms
- Astonished
- Aghast
- Thunderstruck
- Dumbfounded (often implies being so surprised one is unable to speak)
Antonyms
- Unimpressed
- Unmoved
- Blasé
- Expectant (as the surprise element is absent)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To be struck dumb: To be so surprised or shocked that one cannot speak. (This idiom describes a similar state of speechless astonishment implied by "openmouthed.")
- Eyes wide open: While focusing on the eyes, this phrase describes a similar state of alert astonishment that often accompanies being openmouthed.
Adjective
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with eyes or mouth open in surprise
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