to poleaxe

Examples

• All

• His confidence was poleaxed by the harsh criticism from the judges.

• She was poleaxed when she heard the unexpected bad news.

• The news poleaxed him completely.

• She felt poleaxed by the sudden breakup.

• The sudden layoff poleaxed everyone in the department, leaving them in disbelief.

• She was poleaxed when she heard the unexpected bad news.

• His confidence was poleaxed by the harsh criticism from the judges.

Synonyms

P

to poleax

vsto poleaxe

• Archaic

1 9.9

To hit someone hard so they fall or to overwhelm them suddenly

focuses on sudden emotional shock rather than physical felling

S

to sledgehammer

vsto poleaxe

1 7.2

To hit something very hard with a large heavy tool with a long handle

applies to sudden devastating emotional shock rather than mere physical hitting

H

to hit like a ton of bricks

vsto poleaxe

• Informal

1 8.0

To feel a sudden strong shock or surprise

expresses sudden effect but stresses emotional devastation not literal weight

H

to hit like a lightning bolt

vsto poleaxe

8.2

To feel sudden shock or surprise

is a sudden shock but emphasizes devastating emotional effect instead

S

to sledge

vsto poleaxe

7.9

To hit something hard with a heavy hammer that has a long handle

refers to sudden overwhelming emotional shock rather than repeated physical beating

Antonyms

C

to comfort

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

How Shocking

to devastate

221 4.9

to poleaxe

• Archaic

9.9

to stun

11 3.0

to stagger

7 3.8

to astonish

13 3.5

to surprise

∞ 1.0

to startle

131 3.7

Surface Forms

Etymology