stupefy

verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈstü-pə-ˌfī 

ˈstyü-

stupefied; stupefying

transitive verb

1

: to make stupid, groggy, or insensible

2

: astonish, astound

stupefyingly

ˈstü-pə-ˌfī-iŋ-lē 

ˈstyü-

adverb

Synonyms

• amaze
• stun
• surprise
• astonish
• startle
• shock

Examples of stupefy in a Sentence

stupefied by the ruling that he could not compete because he missed the qualifying age by two days

Recent Examples on the Web

Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone‘s doom-laden black comedy-thriller Bugonia stupefied and delighted the Venice Film Festival on Thursday night, drawing a rousing six-minute standing ovation after its world premiere inside the Italian water city’s Sala Grande cinema. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025

The popularity Nirvana gained at stupefying speed and unmanageable proportions in 1991 is impossible to replicate in the culture and music industry of 2025. —Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025

Even Adorno might have been stupefied. —Jon Raymond august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025

Modern Paris is an elegant monument to Haussmann’s profligacy; he was fired for spending stupefying sums of public money to force it up like winter tulips. —Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stupifien, modification of Latin stupefacere, from stupēre to be astonished + facere to make, do — more at do

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stupefy

• beefy
• leafy

Kids Definition

stupefy

verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈst(y)ü-pə-ˌfī 

stupefied; stupefying

1

: astonish, bewilder

the strange sight stupefied the crowd

2

: to make stupid, groggy, or numb

stupefied by the huge meal

Medical Definition

stupefy

transitive verb

stu·​pe·​fy ˈst(y)ü-pə-ˌfī 

stupefied; stupefying

: to make stupid, groggy, or insensible

stupefied by anesthesia