to stagger

Examples

• All

• Emerging from the air-conditioned drugstore, he is staggered by the heat.

  Fiction book (1995)

• I am staggered by the picosecond ease with which I scan a five-decade gulf.

  Fiction book (1990)

• For today, I shall let every single member of this audience participate in a trick that will stagger the minds of the television viewers.

  The Wizard of Gore (1970)

• It's always staggered me that land is treated the way it is today.

  Blog text (12)

• Wherever you look, the heat, the drought, and the fires stagger the imagination.

  Blog text (21)

• The smell of her perfume staggered him.

  Fiction book (1994)

• You stagger me.

  Saturn Returns (2017)

• Let me just quote a couple sentences directly from Darwin's book that really stagger me with their profound implications.

• For there are unknown elements surrounding our beings that would stagger a child's vast dreamworld.

  Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)

• The lack of humility before nature that's being displayed here staggers me.

  Jurassic Park (1993)

Synonyms

S

to shock

vsto stagger

208 2.1

To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress

is the broad term for great surprise without adding distress or disbelief

S

to stun

vsto stagger

38 3.0

To surprise someone so much they cannot react for a short time

covers great surprise more broadly, not only temporary incapacity

T

to take aback

vsto stagger

33 4.2

To surprise someone so much that they do not know what to say

is the general idea of causing great surprise rather than this sudden freeze

B

to blow your mind

vsto stagger

• Informal

27 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

is the simpler sense of causing strong surprise rather than deep impression

F

to floor

vsto stagger

22 6.6

To surprise someone so much they cannot react

is wider, meaning strong surprise without focusing on brief inability

A

to astound

vsto stagger

19 4.2

To surprise someone very much and make them feel amazed

covers shock and surprise in general rather than focused wonder

A

to astonish

vsto stagger

18 3.5

To surprise someone very much

is broader, meaning great surprise without stressing wonder

J

to jolt

vsto stagger

16 4.3

To surprise someone and make them react

is similar but more general, not limited to sudden disturbance

T

to throw a curve

vsto stagger

• Informal

6 8.4

To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect

is about causing strong surprise without the idea of tricking or confusing

F

to flabbergast

vsto stagger

2 7.4

To surprise someone very much

leans more to plain strong surprise rather than strong amazement

S

to stupefy

vsto stagger

2 7.9

To make someone unable to think or react after a very strong shock

focuses on great surprise without necessarily causing mental paralysis

K

to knock over with a feather

vsto stagger

• Informal

2 8.8

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

is similar but applies to strong shock in general situations

M

to make someone's jaw drop

vsto stagger

• Informal

1 4.4

To surprise someone very much

is the general shock idea, not only the visible amazement effect

T

to take one's breath away

vsto stagger

• Informal

1 4.1

Make someone feel very surprised and unable to speak

is more neutral, meaning great surprise without strong positive awe

H

to hit like a lightning bolt

vsto stagger

1 8.2

To feel sudden shock or surprise

is the broader term for great surprise, not only sudden forceful hits

C

to catch off guard

vsto stagger

1 4.0

To surprise someone so they are not ready to react

focuses on strong surprise itself rather than lack of preparation

Compounds

S

stagger bush

• US

1 9.9

A bush with pinkish-white nodding flowers that is poisonous to farm animals

S

stagger head

• Specialized

9.6

A headline with each line indented more to the right like steps

How Surprising

to flabbergast

2 7.4

to amaze

104 1.0

to stagger

4 3.8

to astonish

18 3.5

to surprise

712 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology