1
as in amazement
the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary
the Midwesterner's astonishment at seeing the ocean for the first time
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2
as in shock
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
the suddenness of the thunderstorm left the picnickers in a state of astonishment
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Recent Examples of astonishment
The flip side of that is the sense of astonishment at how the history that has been written about Dial does not reflect his actual achievement, and essentially, not only limits it but imagines things that don’t actually fit.
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Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2024
In the fall of 2016, the editors of The New Yorker published an enthusiastic endorsement of Hillary Clinton:
On November 8th, barring some astonishment, the people of the United States will, after two hundred and forty years, send a woman to the White House.
—The Editors, The New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2024
The two travelers from New Orleans touched their fingers to the reddish-orange chile powder on a napkin, put it on their tongues, and then looked at each other in astonishment.
—John Burnett, NPR, 21 Sep. 2024
Still, Hudson is like every mother, catching herself staring at her now teenager in astonishment.
—Essence, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for astonishment 
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2024
In the fall of 2016, the editors of The New Yorker published an enthusiastic endorsement of Hillary Clinton:
On November 8th, barring some astonishment, the people of the United States will, after two hundred and forty years, send a woman to the White House.
—The Editors, The New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2024
The two travelers from New Orleans touched their fingers to the reddish-orange chile powder on a napkin, put it on their tongues, and then looked at each other in astonishment.
—John Burnett, NPR, 21 Sep. 2024
Still, Hudson is like every mother, catching herself staring at her now teenager in astonishment.
—Essence, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for astonishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonishment
Noun
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The four words were first spoken here on a bright spring afternoon at Camelback Ranch, my astonished syllables joining similar tones of amazement floating from every corner of a crowded press box.Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
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Belichick showed up to the amazement of his squad dressed in a full pirate outfit with his then-wife Debby Clarke Belichick.Scott Thompson, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Social media is awash in lists of reads from last month, last week, last year, driven by the same shock of recognition that there’s plenty new under the sun.Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
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But, after the initial shock of those first few weeks, thoughts turned from survival to bringing Asheville back to its once-thriving state.Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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As the conversation continued, the hip-hop legend then began expressing his admiration for Towns.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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But the material undergirding his beliefs—his keen admiration for Martin Luther King Jr., in particular—is still present.K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This isn't the first X-rated surprise to spring up on social media in the lead-up to Christmas.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Moreno had at least one bash: at a dinner in London with fellow theater stars Patrick Wilson, Audra McDonald, Daniel Dae Kim and Aaron Tveit, who were all across the pond to sing at The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert, which featured Moreno as a surprise performer.Eric Andersson, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The girls become kindred spirits, sharing secrets, wonderment, and several key world events.Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Dec. 2024
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Generally, the drama does spectacularly well with abiding by a primal sense of magical realism — the finding of wonderment in the banal and the insertion of banality into the wondrous.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near astonishment
Cite this Entry
“Astonishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonishment. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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