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Glite Dictionary
state of shock

state of shock

19 3.9
A very stunned and numb feeling after a sudden bad event
  • noun
  • /steɪt əv ʃɑk/
: estado de shock
  • I'm afraid we're all in a state of shock.

Courtney was obviously in a state of shock.

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Examples

  • You are in a state of shock and you're not thinking clearly.

    Hot Pursuit (2015)

  • After hearing the unexpected news about the accident, she fell into a state of shock and couldn't speak.

  • The man was obviously in a state of shock.

    Skyhook (2012)

  • Suddenly I was thrown into a state of shock.

    Badlands (1974)

  • Alan was probably at this moment still in a state of shock.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • She was in a state of shock, you might say.

    Road Kill (1999)

  • Larkspur residents are in a state of shock today with the events at county hospital.

    It's Alive (2009)

  • The entire community is in a state of shock over both tragedies.

    Blog text (24)

  • I am in a state of shock, Shane's heart is still beating.

    Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)

  • Marge, you're in a state of shock.

    I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)

Synonyms

shock
vsstate of shock
623 2.3

A sudden strong feeling of surprise and distress after an unexpected event

is an extreme state causing numbness and emotional freezing rather than brief surprise
surprise
vsstate of shock
611 1.0

A sudden feeling of wonder when something is unexpected

is more severe, involving distress and possible emotional numbness
dismay
vsstate of shock
47 3.4

A sudden strong feeling of worry or shock caused by something unexpected

is more extreme, adding numbness and greatly increased distress
astonishment
vsstate of shock
27 3.4

A very strong feeling of surprise and wonder

is harsher and includes distress or emotional numbness not mere wonder
daze
vsstate of shock
20 5.3

A short time when you feel confused and cannot think clearly

is deeper, adding strong distress and emotional numbness to that confusion
state of disbelief
vsstate of shock
1 4.9

Not able to believe something because it is shocking

is more emotional and can include numbness and acute distress
stupefaction
vsstate of shock
1 9.5

A state of being so shocked that you cannot think or react

is a broader extreme including distress and numbness beyond stunned amazement

Antonyms

normalcy
  • US
37 4.1

The usual state when life returns to the expected routine

composure
34 5.1

Calm control of your feelings and actions in a difficult situation

How Shocked

state of shock
19 3.9
startled
75 3.3

Surface Forms

state of shock singular
states of shock plural

Morphology

state + of + shock

The meaning is directly compositional: 'state' = condition and 'shock' = a sudden strong feeling of surprise or distress, so 'state of shock' simply denotes the condition of experiencing shock. This noun + of + noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic way to form such descriptions, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

State of shock may come from the idea of a physical shock — like an electric shock or a sudden injury — that makes the body feel numb and leaves someone in a still state. So, it now describes being 'extremely surprised, upset, or emotionally numb' after a sudden event.