dumbfound

or dum·found

[ duhm-found, duhm-found ]
See synonyms for dumbfound on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to make speechless with amazement; astonish.

Origin of dumbfound

1
First recorded in 1645–55; dumb + (con)found
  • Also dumb·found·er, dum·found·er [duhm-foun-der, duhm-foun-] /dʌmˈfaʊn dər, ˈdʌmˌfaʊn-/ .

Other words for dumbfound

Other words from dumbfound

  • dumb·found·er·ment, dum·found·er·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dumbfound in a sentence

  • “You and that horse continually dumfound me,” said Mr. Meadows.

    Ticktock and Jim | Keith Robertson
  • This girl utterly dumfounded me, and in the conceit of youth I thought it strange that any girl could dumfound me.

    Lords of the North | A. C. Laut
  • He stared at her, whirled about, surveyed the vacant landscape, and once more turned dumfound-ed toward her.

    'way Down In Lonesome Cove | Charles Egbert Craddock (AKA Mary Noailles Murfree)
  • Dumfound′, -er, to strike dumb: to confuse greatly: to astonish.

  • If her idea had been utterly to dumfound the unsuspecting professor, she succeeded admirably.

    Prudence Says So | Ethel Hueston

British Dictionary definitions for dumbfound

dumbfound

dumfound

/ (dʌmˈfaʊnd) /


verb
  1. (tr) to strike dumb with astonishment; amaze

Origin of dumbfound

1
C17: from dumb + (con) found

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