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stunned

stunned

29 3.0
Too shocked to move or think clearly
  • adjective
  • /stʌnd/
translation icon : atónito
  • I am genuinely stunned, and for a second can't think of anything to say.

They're just, they're stunned at what they find.

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Examples

  • The driver tried to chat, but Carl remained too stunned to reply.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I am rather stunned that this is all happening so quickly.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • At which point I was just sitting there completely stunned and I said, how could you say that?

  • Everyone was so stunned that no one had the mind to stop him.

  • I was still too stunned to figure out what this meant.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • At first, I was too stunned to move, so I just stood there.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • From the silence that followed this statement, I knew Mother and Peter were as stunned as I was.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I'm too stunned to be furious.

  • You know, as shocked as you guys are about these turns of events, I can assure you, nobody is more stunned than me.

  • After hearing the shocking news, she was completely stunned and couldn't find the words to respond.

Synonyms

confused
vsstunned
692 1.3

Not able to think clearly or understand what is happening

adds that the person is also unable to react not only to understand
shocked
vsstunned
543 2.1

Feeling surprised and upset because something bad or unexpected happens

adds that thinking or reacting is blocked not only emotional upset
surprised
vsstunned
357 1.0

Feeling sudden wonder when something unexpected happens

is more likely to block thinking or reactions not just cause wonder
amazed
vsstunned
138 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

also implies being unable to think or react clearly not only wonder
speechless
vsstunned
61 3.1

Unable to speak for a short time because you feel very surprised or shocked

involves inability to react or think clearly beyond just speaking
dazed
vsstunned
40 4.8

Not able to think and act clearly after a shock or when very tired

is caused by shock emotionally as well as by physical blows or tiredness
horrified
vsstunned
35 2.8

Feeling very shocked and upset because something is terrible or frightening

is less about moral disgust and more about sudden inability to react
29 4.1

Surprised and not ready for something that happens suddenly

can cause inability to think or react clearly rather than only lack of preparation
astonished
vsstunned
21 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

adds an inability to think or react clearly rather than mere surprise
state of shock
vsstunned
17 3.9

A very stunned and numb feeling after a sudden bad event

is an adjective describing the same experience rather than the condition noun
flabbergasted
vsstunned
9 6.7

Very surprised and unable to speak

is similar but can mean being mentally frozen rather than only silent
awestruck
vsstunned
9 6.2

Feeling great wonder and respect, often silent

focuses on sudden shock and inability to react rather than quiet reverence
dumbfounded
vsstunned
7 4.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

often includes broader inability to think or act not just speechlessness
astounded
vsstunned
7 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

may also include physical or emotional effect that blocks reaction or thought
thunderstruck
vsstunned
5 7.0

Very surprised and unable to speak or move

is a strong shock too but can be less extreme
dumbstruck
vsstunned
5 6.5

So shocked that you cannot speak

produces inability to think or react as well not only silent shock
nonplussed
vsstunned
3 8.9

Very surprised and confused so you do not know what to say or do

leaves a person unable to think or react clearly rather than merely unsure
dismayed
vsstunned
2 4.3

Feeling shocked and disappointed when something unexpected happens

is stronger in stopping thought or reaction rather than sadness or worry
discombobulated
vsstunned
  • Informal
2 9.9

Confused and unable to think clearly after something unexpected

carries a stronger sense of being unable to think or react than composure loss
stupefied
vsstunned
1 7.0

Unable to think or react after a sudden shock

can arise from shock or physical or emotional effects not only sudden events
gobsmacked
vsstunned
  • UK
1 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is the sudden shock that specifically stops thinking or reactions
wonder-struck
vsstunned
1 7.2

Feeling very amazed by something beautiful or strange

often includes shock that blocks thinking or acting not only wonder
horror-struck
vsstunned
1 7.2

So shocked and afraid that you cannot move

focuses on general shock and frozen response rather than horror specifically
disconcerted
vsstunned
1 6.9

Feeling confused and uneasy because something surprised you

focuses more on total inability to think or react not just loss of composure
to reel with shock
vsstunned
7.2

To feel so shocked for a short time that you cannot think or speak

is used as an adjective to describe that temporary inability after shock
dumbstricken
vsstunned
9.8

So shocked that you cannot speak for a short time

also causes a wider inability to think or move not only speech loss
astonied
vsstunned
  • Archaic
9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

describes sudden stopping of thought rather than only strong surprise
dazzled
vsstunned
4.2

Very impressed and unable to speak because something is beautiful or amazing

is more about shock stopping thinking rather than admiration for brilliance
staggered
vsstunned
4.4

Very surprised by something you did not expect

often implies temporary inability to think or react rather than just surprise
shaken
vsstunned
2.7

Feeling upset and confused after a sudden bad event

tends to stress ongoing disturbance not only immediate inability to react
jolted
vsstunned
5.3

Suddenly shocked and unable to act or speak

implies general shock causing inability to think not only a brief jolt
befuddled
vsstunned
7.4

Confused and unable to think clearly

means the same confusion but also includes being unable to act or respond

Antonyms

137 3.5

A state of being ready and watchful for possible danger

1 4.9

Able to think clearly and make good decisions

How Stunned

dumbfounded
7 4.6
astonished
21 2.7
stunned
29 3.0
shocked
543 2.1
surprised
357 1.0

Surface Forms

stunned positive
stunner comparative
stunnest superlative

Morphology

stunned = stun (transparent) = stun + ed

The adjective is formed by the regular past-participle/adjectival use of 'stun' + '-ed', so its meaning is directly inferable from the verb.

Etymology

Stunned comes from an old idea of being hit 'like thunder'. The base stun once meant 'to strike' or be hit hard, so if you are stunned you are so shocked or hurt that you cannot think or move.