as in to amaze
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me
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Recent Examples of astonish
The attorney, Murray Silverstein, recalled being astonished that the matter had come to litigation.
—
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
McCourty, a 13-year veteran at the time, was astonished by the program Thornhill put together.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
The sheer number of structures astonished archaeologists, leading them to understand that the Chachapoya were a widespread and highly sophisticated society that mastered adaptation.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2025
And these are great operas — people are astonished!
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonish
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
McCourty, a 13-year veteran at the time, was astonished by the program Thornhill put together.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
The sheer number of structures astonished archaeologists, leading them to understand that the Chachapoya were a widespread and highly sophisticated society that mastered adaptation.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2025
And these are great operas — people are astonished!
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for astonish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astonish
Verb
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The 90-yard dash along the right sideline one play after Ruvalcaba’s interception amazed his teammates.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Having an almost 80-year-old actor at the heart of the film and in almost every scene could be a huge undertaking, but Touzani says Maura’s vitality amazed her.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The battle was turbo-charged when Powell surprised markets with a 50 basis point inflation hike in September last year, seen by some as a gift to Trump’s Democratic Party election rival Kamala Harris.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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In a move that surprised some, the Republican governor’s proclamation also called on lawmakers to weaken the state’s initiative petition process, a more than a century-old mechanism for direct democracy that allows citizens to put measures on the ballot.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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When news of the closing of Valerie Chang’s Peruvian restaurant Maty’s was announced in Midtown, Miami diners were stunned.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Broadbelt’s death shocked the community and reignited a countywide conversation about the dual problem of unleashed dogs and overcrowded animal shelters.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
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Kristen Delano, a spokesperson for Koloma, told the Idaho Statesman in an interview that the discovery shocked scientists, many of whom thought hydrogen molecules were too small to collect underground.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Astonish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astonish. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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