Synonyms of flabbergast

flabbergast

verb

ˈfla-bər-ˌgast 

as in to amaze

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amaze
• surprise
• shock
• astonish
• stun
• startle
• dumbfound
• astound
• stupefy
• rock
• surprize
• dumfound
• bewilder
• perplex
• take aback
• take by surprise
• befuddle
• thunderstrike
• disconcert
• floor
• bowl over
• nonplus
• discomfit
• dismay
• confuse
• muddle
• blindside
• daze
• confound
• shake up
• blow away
• jar
• knock for a loop

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flabbergast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flabbergast are amaze, astonish, astound, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When would amaze be a good substitute for flabbergast?

The words amaze and flabbergast can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is astonish a more appropriate choice than flabbergast?

The meanings of astonish and flabbergast largely overlap; however, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When might astound be a better fit than flabbergast?

While in some cases nearly identical to flabbergast, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would surprise be a reasonable alternative to flabbergast?

In some situations, the words surprise and flabbergast are roughly equivalent. However, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flabbergast

Basic logistical failures like fuel shortages stalled Russian efforts within the first week of the invasion, showing a level of unpreparedness in Moscow’s ranks that flabbergasted Western defense officials. —Fox News, 24 Feb. 2023

Fedotowsky remembers being flabbergasted and confused by the exchange. —Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 30 Mar. 2023

One of the company’s researchers, Jules Silverman, plucked several roaches from a Gainesville apartment—and was flabbergasted to find that the insects were no longer tempted by Combat’s corn syrup and instead scuttled away in disgust. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2023

His words rolled across the bottom of the screen in Arabic while men in djellabas, flabbergasted by the spectacle, sat transfixed beside their hookahs. —Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 17 Mar. 2023