flabbergast

verb

flab·​ber·​gast ˈfla-bər-ˌgast 

flabbergasted; flabbergasting; flabbergasts

transitive verb

: to overwhelm with shock, surprise, or wonder : dumbfound

We were flabbergasted by the news that he had won the lottery.

flabbergastingly

ˈfla-bər-ˌga-stiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• amaze
• astonish
• astound
• bowl over
• dumbfound
• dumfound
• floor
• rock
• shock
• startle
• stun
• stupefy
• surprise
• surprize
• thunderstrike

Choose the Right Synonym for flabbergast

surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness.

surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

Examples of flabbergast in a Sentence

It flabbergasts me to see how many people still support them.

your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Recent Examples on the Web

Elton John ‘flabbergasted’ and teary after Biden surprises him with medal More anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed into state law in the first four months of this year than at any other time in U.S. history, a Post analysis earlier this year found. —Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 20 June 2023

The stadium negotiator was flabbergasted that the A’s had dodged both requests. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023

Despite Cook’s assertions that the headset will be a game changer, the product was met with a mixed reception, with many impressed by its capabilities but flabbergasted by the hefty price tag. —Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 7 June 2023

Pascal played a popular high school teacher flabbergasted by TikTok fancams. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

flabbergast

verb

flab·​ber·​gast ˈflab-ər-ˌgast 

: astonish, dumbfound