stupefied
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Overwhelmed with astonishment or shock: Being in a state where one's mental faculties are temporarily numbed or paralyzed due to an extremely surprising, shocking, or unbelievable event. 2. Dazed or bewildered: Being in a condition of mental confusion or numbness, often as a result of fatigue, a physical blow, or intense surprise.
Usage
The adjective "stupefied" describes a person's temporary state of mind. It is typically used as a subject complement after linking verbs like be, feel, look, or seem. It emphasizes a complete, often momentary, loss of the ability to think or react normally.
Examples
- The audience was stupefied by the magician's final, impossible trick.
- She looked stupefied when she heard the unexpected results of the election.
- After working for 36 hours straight, he was too stupefied from fatigue to understand the simple question.
- The news of the sudden merger left the entire office stupefied.
Advanced Usage
- "Stupefied into silence/inactivity": This construction shows that the state of being stupefied results in a specific reaction (or lack thereof).
- The sheer audacity of the proposal stupefied the committee into silence.
Variants and Related Words
- Stupefy (verb): To astonish and shock someone so that they are unable to react normally.
- The verdict stupefied the defendant's family.
- Stupefying (adjective): Causing astonishment or shock; overwhelmingly impressive or shocking.
- The amount of data collected was stupefying.
Synonyms
- Astonished: Filled with sudden and great surprise.
- Dumbfounded: So shocked or surprised as to be unable to speak.
- Flabbergasted: Extremely surprised or shocked (informal).
- Thunderstruck: Suddenly and powerfully struck with amazement or terror.
- Stunned: Shocked or astonished to the point of being temporarily unable to react.
Antonyms
- Unimpressed: Not feeling admiration or interest.
- Unsurprised: Not feeling or showing surprise.
- Expectant: Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen.
- Composed: Having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To be struck dumb: To be so surprised or shocked that one cannot speak. (This is a close conceptual parallel to being stupefied).
- She was struck dumb by the accusation.
Adjective
- in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
- he had a dazed expression on his face
- lay semiconscious, stunned (or stupefied) by the blow
- was stupid from fatigue
- 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