Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amaze contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of amaze are astonish, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When would astonish be a good substitute for amaze?

The synonyms astonish and amaze are sometimes interchangeable, but astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

In what contexts can astound take the place of amaze?

The words astound and amaze can be used in similar contexts, but astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to amaze?

The meanings of flabbergast and amaze largely overlap; however, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When could surprise be used to replace amaze?

While the synonyms surprise and amaze are close in meaning, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amaze What amazed me is that separation started almost as soon as [Trump] assumed the presidency. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024 Joey Belladonna, Anthrax Minnesota Vikings 13-4. Tim and Phil Hanseroth, The Hanseroth Twins/Brandi Carlile Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks will amaze the NFL under new head coach and defensive guru Mike Macdonald, and his new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024 Sponsor Content: Alabama’s Beaches A vacation at Alabama's Beaches will surprise and amaze you. Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2024 Just when stargazers thought the double meteor shower couldn't be topped, the Perseids are ready to amaze. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amaze 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amaze
Verb
  • But even the most devoted cat lovers might be surprised by the results of a new study.
    Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Watch on Hulu At Witt’s End On December 1, 1994, 19-year-old Melissa Witt drove to surprise her mother at a bowling alley in Fort Smith, Arkansas, but disappeared without a trace.
    Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • That meant those showing up in New Zealand were astonished to discover their task was to climb the New Zealand Fiji Mountains within 14 days.
    Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2024
  • Immediately upon being plucked from the proverbial shadows of the backroom studio, Alessandro Michele astonished with his new Gucci, a house reawakened by an intriguing gentility rich with influences from antiquity to today’s urban culture.
    Bridget Foley, WWD, 27 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • The endangered turtle was hypothermic and lethargic, stunned by the chilly waters of Pedder Bay.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Blake Lively stuns in white at the CFDA Fashion Awards on Oct. 28 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Upstart Indiana, who have shocked even the most seasoned college football experts this year with the Hoosiers unblemished 9-0 record, come in at No. 8.
    David Close, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Tens of thousands of people who had invested their savings in the bank lost money, shocking the communist nation and prompting rare protests from the victims.
    Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The handful of locals at Mt. Baldy Lodge eating lunch Tuesday afternoon were startled when someone screamed that the Bridge fire was barreling toward the village.
    Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024
  • How about experiments on the swimming ability of a dead rainbow trout or that time biologists tried to startle cows by popping paper bags by their heads?
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • The results astounded me and raised deep questions about ethics, the authenticity of media artifacts, and the personal meaning behind handwriting itself.
    Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024
  • The lack of cultural awareness or care here astounds for its conspicuousness.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near amaze

Cite this Entry

“Amaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amaze. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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