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flabbergasted

flabbergasted

9 6.7
Very surprised and unable to speak
  • adjective
  • /ˈflæbərˌɡæstɪd/
translation icon : atónito
  • The audience was flabbergasted when the magician pulled a rabbit out of an empty hat.

I will be flabbergasted if that ends up being true.

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Examples

  • I was flabbergasted to learn that I had won the grand prize in the lottery.

  • I have to say, I was completely flabbergasted!

  • Now, when I started to remove it, I was absolutely flabbergasted that the painting was pretty much OK.

  • In a word, I was flabbergasted.

  • Meanwhile, I am scared, flabbergasted, and inspired.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • It's crazy, I graduated high school in 2006 and I am flabbergasted at what grade school has turned into!

    Blog text (27)
  • Heck, I was only 12 years old, but I was flabbergasted!

    Blog text (9)
  • I am absolutely flabbergasted at the type of officiating that went on in this game.

    Blog text (28)
  • Okay, I am completely flabbergasted now! I didn't realize you were an author!

    Blog text (14)
  • As a high school teacher, I am flabbergasted at how unprepared my students are on these basics.

    Blog text (13)

Synonyms

shocked
vsflabbergasted
543 2.1

Feeling surprised and upset because something bad or unexpected happens

is about extreme astonishment that freezes speech rather than upset
surprised
vsflabbergasted
357 1.0

Feeling sudden wonder when something unexpected happens

is much stronger and usually makes someone momentarily unable to speak
amazed
vsflabbergasted
138 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

is similar but more extreme and often leaves one unable to speak
stunned
vsflabbergasted
29 3.0

Too shocked to move or think clearly

is equally strong but emphasizes being speechless rather than physical numbness
astonished
vsflabbergasted
21 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

is the same strong reaction but adds speechless astonishment as key
dumbfounded
vsflabbergasted
7 4.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is the same strong silence but highlights shock more than calm wonder
astounded
vsflabbergasted
7 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

is similarly strong but more about being speechless from astonishment
dumbstruck
vsflabbergasted
5 6.5

So shocked that you cannot speak

is equally extreme but emphasizes silence rather than general shock
thunderstruck
vsflabbergasted
5 7.0

Very surprised and unable to speak or move

is similar but stresses being rendered speechless by astonishment
stupefied
vsflabbergasted
1 7.0

Unable to think or react after a sudden shock

focuses more on being speechless from astonishment rather than mental numbness
gobsmacked
vsflabbergasted
  • UK
1 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is equally extreme but focuses on silence and being speechless
wonder-struck
vsflabbergasted
1 7.2

Feeling very amazed by something beautiful or strange

is more about sudden shock that silences rather than calm wonder
dumbstricken
vsflabbergasted
9.8

So shocked that you cannot speak for a short time

is similar but stresses astonishment to the point of speechlessness
astonied
vsflabbergasted
  • Archaic
9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

is more narrowly about being left speechless by astonishment
staggered
vsflabbergasted
4.4

Very surprised by something you did not expect

is similar but more focused on being rendered speechless by shock

Antonyms

14 4.0

Not thinking something is good or interesting

How Surprised

flabbergasted
9 6.7
astounded
7 3.8
astonished
21 2.7
surprised
357 1.0
startled
3.3

Surface Forms

flabbergasted positive

Morphology

flabbergasted = flabbergast (transparent) = flabbergast + ed

The adjective is a regular past-participial/adjectival form of the verb 'flabbergast' formed with productive '-ed', so the relation is straightforward for learners who know the verb.

Etymology

The word flabbergasted has an uncertain origin. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone who suddenly gasps or becomes aghast, completely 'speechless' and shocked.