as in suddenly
without warning
completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving
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Recent Examples of aback
When this arises, the surprise can take you aback.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
But even the internet was taken aback by the couple’s situation as much as Ramsey was.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2023
Yeni Sanchez was hoping to buy soup for lunch and was taken aback by the closure, given the high amount of security.
—Roland Li, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2023
House Democrats received no comparable head’s up. Democrats were taken aback by the abruptness of Biden’s shift.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, 7 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for aback 
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
But even the internet was taken aback by the couple’s situation as much as Ramsey was.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2023
Yeni Sanchez was hoping to buy soup for lunch and was taken aback by the closure, given the high amount of security.
—Roland Li, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2023
House Democrats received no comparable head’s up. Democrats were taken aback by the abruptness of Biden’s shift.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, 7 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for aback
Thesaurus Entries Near aback
Cite this Entry
“Aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aback. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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