dumbstruck

5 6.5

So shocked that you cannot speak

adjective
/ˈdʌmstrʌk/

: atónito

Jackson sat dumbstruck as the full horror and audacity of that admission dawned on him.

Ricardo was dumbstruck, like just no words.

Examples

Bruce finds himself dumbstruck as she lets him in.

Fiction book (1992)
I'm glad you posted this follow-up stuff because I was dumbstruck listening at the time.

Blog text (22)
We were often dumbstruck by what we found.

Academic text (2015)
But I still find myself dumbstruck by art objects from time to time.

Blog text (6)
The Butler is too dumbstruck to say anything.

Fiction book (1998)
Our boys are left dumbstruck and speechless.

Fiction book (1999)
"I was dumbstruck the first time I took them to that Mac lab," says McMullan.

Academic text (2007)
When Jerry and Claire saw each other from across the room at the Steegmullers' party, Claire was dumbstruck.

Fiction book (2001)
Well, ma'am, if that surprises you, you'll be dumbstruck to learn he's agreed to the sale of the property.

Forsaken (2015)
Everyone stood dumbstruck when they heard the unbelievable news.

Synonyms

surprised

vsdumbstruck

∞ 1.0

Feeling sudden wonder when something unexpected happens

causes temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling surprise

shocked

vsdumbstruck

519 2.1

Feeling surprised and upset because something bad or unexpected happens

causes temporary inability to speak because of astonishment rather than mainly upset or fear

amazed

vsdumbstruck

260 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

produces temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling wonder

stunned

vsdumbstruck

197 3.0

Too shocked to move or think clearly

causes temporary inability to speak rather than general inability to think or react

shaken

vsdumbstruck

95 2.7

Feeling upset and confused after a sudden bad event

causes temporary inability to speak rather than ongoing upset or disturbance

numb

vsdumbstruck

75 4.1

Unable to feel or show emotion after something upsetting

is about temporary inability to speak rather than emotional unresponsiveness

speechless

vsdumbstruck

57 3.1

Unable to speak for a short time because you feel very surprised or shocked

is caused specifically by sudden shock or astonishment rather than general strong emotion

astonished

vsdumbstruck

55 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

leads to temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling amazed

astounded

vsdumbstruck

26 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

results in temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling amazement

dumb

vsdumbstruck

NSFW

25 5.2

Unable to speak for a short time because of shock or surprise

is caused specifically by sudden shock or astonishment rather than general emotion

dumbfounded

vsdumbstruck

20 4.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is the same shock causing temporary inability to speak rather than a different reaction

flabbergasted

vsdumbstruck

15 6.7

Very surprised and unable to speak

describes temporary inability to speak without necessarily extreme intensity

thunderstruck

vsdumbstruck

6 7.0

Very surprised and unable to speak or move

results specifically in temporary inability to speak rather than general inability to react

nonplussed

vsdumbstruck

5 8.9

Very surprised and confused so you do not know what to say or do

produces temporary inability to speak rather than confusion about how to react

stupefied

vsdumbstruck

5 7.0

Unable to think or react after a sudden shock

produces temporary inability to speak rather than mainly preventing thought or action

gobsmacked

vsdumbstruck

4 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

results in temporary inability to speak rather than only astonishment

staggered

vsdumbstruck

4 4.4

Very surprised by something you did not expect

often involves temporary inability to speak rather than only strong surprise

astonied

vsdumbstruck

Archaic

1 9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

causes temporary inability to speak rather than only being overwhelmed

dumbstricken

vsdumbstruck

9.8

So shocked that you cannot speak for a short time

has identical meaning but is a different written form

Antonyms

expressive

39 3.4

Showing feelings and ideas clearly in the face or voice

talkative

33 2.5

A person who likes to speak a lot with other people

How Shocked

dumbstruck

5 6.5

astonished

55 2.7

surprised

∞ 1.0

startled

75 3.3

Surface Forms

dumbstruck positive

Morphology

dumbstruck = dumb + struck (transparent) = dumb + struck

Formed from 'dumb' + 'struck' ('struck' in the sense of being hit/suddenly affected), so a learner knowing the components can infer 'struck dumb' = rendered speechless.

Etymology

Dumbstruck comes from dumb ('silent' or 'unable to speak') and struck ('hit', like in 'strike'). It paints the image of being 'hit' so hard by surprise that you cannot speak, which is why dumbstruck means very shocked and speechless.