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View synonyms for astonish

astonish

[ uh-ston-ish ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze:

    Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

    Synonyms: shock, startle, astound



astonish

/ əˈstɒnɪʃ /

verb

  1. tr to fill with amazement; surprise greatly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • as·ton·ish·er noun
  • su·per·as·ton·ish verb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of astonish1

First recorded in 1525–35; Middle English astonyen, astonen, probably from unattested dialectal Old French astoner, Old French estoner, from unattested Vulgar Latin extonāre, for Latin attonāre “to strike with lightning,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1, at- at- + tonāre “to thunder”; extended by -ish 2, perhaps reflecting unattested Anglo-French astonir, from dialectal Old French; thunder
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Word History and Origins

Origin of astonish1

C15: from earlier astonyen (see astonied ), from Old French estoner, from Vulgar Latin extonāre (unattested) to strike with thunder, from Latin tonāre to thunder
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

“When I look at my list of what we’ve done over the last 25 years, I’m astonished at what we’ve accomplished,” says Paula Johnson, the team’s leader.

It is beyond astonishing the imagination that you see on TikTok.

From Digiday

That’s why I was astonished one wintry day to see a long-eared jackrabbit tear out from a gravelly wash, its lithe body moving so fast it almost floated above the landscape.

What I was astonished by was that there was this sound and fury.

From Time

I’m astonished to see the extent to which the Attorney General is willing to say things that are blatantly irresponsible but that parrot some of the language of the President.

From Time

“These words astonish me as much as they amaze you,” he said.

To question that which seems to have ceased forever to astonish us.

The art works which still astonish the world were launched in part to give employment to the poor multitude.

They frighten a few people (mostly each other), are rude to bystanders and astonish a cleaning lady.

His book should astonish both liberals and conservatives—and for very different reasons.

Nothing seemed to trouble or astonish the visitor, either about the food or the service.

In thy anger thou wilt tread the earth under foot: in thy wrath thou wilt astonish the nations.

Blind faith in a religion, fanatical zeal for a religion, are too common to astonish us.

The members often astonish those who know them best by their responses to their opportunities.

And without mere ado, he took up his favourite instrument, and prepared to astonish the company.

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astoniedastonished