stun

[ stuhn ]

verb (used with object)

, stunned, stun·ning.

1. to deprive of consciousness or strength by or as if by a blow, fall, etc.:

   The blow to his jaw stunned him for a moment.

2. to astonish; astound; amaze:

   Her wit stunned the audience.

3. to shock; overwhelm:

   The world was stunned by the attempted assassination.

4. to daze or bewilder by noise.

   Synonyms: stupefy

verb (used without object)

1. to cause astonishment or amazement:

   She stunned in a black and silver beaded gown, accessorized with a sparkly clutch.

noun

1. the act of stunning.
2. the condition of being stunned.

stun

/ stʌn /

verb

1. to render unconscious, as by a heavy blow or fall
2. to shock or overwhelm
3. to surprise or astound

noun

1. the state or effect of being stunned

Word History and Origins

Origin of stun¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English stonen, stunen (verb), from Old French estoner “to shake, make resound”; astonish

Word History and Origins

Origin of stun¹

C13 stunen, from Old French estoner to daze, stupefy, from Vulgar Latin extonāre (unattested), from Latin ex- ¹+ tonāre to thunder

Synonym Study

See shock ¹.

Example Sentences

Medicaid enrollment fell by a stunning 12 percentage points.

From Los Angeles Times

But last December, the council made a stunning U-turn and blocked the latest conversion proposal.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, economic confidence sagged under Obama and Biden, even as they presided over stunning recoveries.

From Salon

One of Wise’s most stunning compositions, “Forest Interlude,” began as an attempt to recreate the hypnotic synthesizer sounds of Duran Duran’s “Save a Prayer.”

From New York Times

There was still plenty of praise for its combat, and it is one of the more visually stunning games released this year.

From BBC

Related Words

• amaze
• astonish
• astound
• bemuse
• bewilder
• confound
• confuse
• daze
• dumbfound
• flabbergast
• knock out
• overcome
• overpower
• overwhelm
• paralyze
• rock
• shake up
• surprise