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

shocked

vsdumbstruck

543 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

surprised

vsdumbstruck

357 1.0

Feeling sudden wonder when something unexpected happens

causes temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling surprise

amazed

vsdumbstruck

138 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

produces temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling wonder

numb

vsdumbstruck

62 4.1

Unable to feel or show emotion after something upsetting

is about temporary inability to speak rather than emotional unresponsiveness

speechless

vsdumbstruck

61 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

dumb

vsdumbstruck

NSFW

58 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

stunned

vsdumbstruck

29 3.0

Too shocked to move or think clearly

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

astonished

vsdumbstruck

21 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

leads to temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling amazed

flabbergasted

vsdumbstruck

9 6.7

Very surprised and unable to speak

describes temporary inability to speak without necessarily extreme intensity

dumbfounded

vsdumbstruck

7 4.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

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

astounded

vsdumbstruck

7 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

results in temporary inability to speak rather than only feeling amazement

thunderstruck

vsdumbstruck

5 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

3 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

1 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

1 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

results in temporary inability to speak rather than only astonishment

dumbstricken

vsdumbstruck

9.8

So shocked that you cannot speak for a short time

has identical meaning but is a different written form

astonied

vsdumbstruck

Archaic

9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

causes temporary inability to speak rather than only being overwhelmed

staggered

vsdumbstruck

4.4

Very surprised by something you did not expect

often involves temporary inability to speak rather than only strong surprise

shaken

vsdumbstruck

2.7

Feeling upset and confused after a sudden bad event

causes temporary inability to speak rather than ongoing upset or disturbance

Antonyms

expressive

41 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

21 2.7

surprised

357 1.0

startled

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.