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

1. 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
2. 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