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stunning

stunning

83 4.1
Very surprising and having a strong effect on people
  • adjective
  • /ˈstʌnɪŋ/
translation icon : sorprendente
  • Nineteen-year-old George Foreman has won the gold medal in a stunning upset.
  • a stunning victory
  • a stunning defeat
  • a stunning reversal

And that has been such a stunning reversal to me.

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Examples

  • In 1967, Israel delivered a stunning and unexpected military defeat to Egypt.

    Academic text (2011)
  • What's really stunning is that old habits are totally intact and retrievable in an instant.

  • The new information was stunning and provided many of the missing pieces in the working theory.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The tour group had broken up after a stunning last view of Florence.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a stunning drop in the birth rate.

    Academic text (2010)
  • In the last few decades, Brazil has experienced stunning success as well as striking failure.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Forty percent of them will be in China, where coal is fueling a stunning economic transformation.

    Academic text (2006)
  • You can see the scale, the stunning scale of the change, not least since this technological society kicked in and and then went kind of on steroids.

  • The audience was left in awe by the stunning performance of the dancers.

  • Her stunning argument changed everyone's perspective on the issue.

Synonyms

amazing
vsstunning
1.0

Causing great surprise and admiration

can cause wonder too but more often involves startling or shocking power
remarkable
vsstunning
588 2.8

Unusual and easy to notice because it is different or surprising

is stronger and includes intense surprise or shocking impact
surprising
vsstunning
433 1.8

Causing surprise because it is not expected

is a more intense form that often includes shock or powerful effect
shocking
vsstunning
278 3.4

Very surprising and upsetting in a way that makes people angry or sad

overlaps in shock but is less tied to moral disapproval
spectacular
vsstunning
265 3.5

Very impressive and exciting to look at

can be dramatic too but more often shocks rather than entertains
startling
vsstunning
103 5.0

Very surprising in a way that causes sudden shock

is similar in shock but can produce a longer lasting powerful effect
astounding
vsstunning
92 4.1

So surprising and impressive that you feel amazed

is equally aweing but can also mean strong shock rather than wonder
breathtaking
vsstunning
77 3.5

A very beautiful and surprising sight that amazes you

can match this effect but also includes plain shocking surprise
striking
vsstunning
56 3.8

Attracting attention because it looks unusual or very beautiful

may attract similarly but more by shock or strong emotional force
mind-blowing
vsstunning
  • Informal
28 5.1

So surprising and impressive that it changes how you feel or think

shares extreme impact but may be less about mental awe
staggering
vsstunning
24 5.3

Very large and surprising in a way that shocks you

matches this overwhelming sense but also covers striking beauty
stupendous
vsstunning
19 6.7

Very large or impressive in a way that amazes people

shares high intensity but focuses more on shock than size
awe-inspiring
vsstunning
16 5.6

Causes people to feel great respect and wonder because it is very impressive

can provoke wonder but more often stresses sudden shocking impact
earth-shattering
vsstunning
9 6.1

Very important and surprising in a way that changes what happens

is similar in force but more often used for single strong effects
eye-popping
vsstunning
  • Informal
7 4.8

Very surprising and impressive to look at

may be visually strong too but also covers shocking, nonvisual effects
astonishing
vsstunning
5 3.4

Very surprising and making you feel great wonder

is similar but may lean more toward shock than gentle wonder
stupefying
vsstunning
1 7.7

So surprising and impressive that it leaves people stunned

is similarly powerful but can also mean strong visual beauty
simply phenomenal
vsstunning
1 5.5

Very impressive and much better than you expect

shares extraordinariness but often stresses sudden shocking force
arresting
vsstunning
6.1

Attracting and holding people's attention because it is unusual or impressive

also commands attention but often via shock rather than mere notice
supereffective
vsstunning
6.7

Very good at making something work much better than usual

can match strong effect but often adds sudden surprise or shock element

Antonyms

189 2.5

Easy to guess what will happen

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

Compounds

A very beautiful scene you see from a place like a mountain or sea

Pictures or photos that look very beautiful and impressive

A very beautiful beach with white sand and clear blue water

Very beautiful natural views that amaze you

How Shocking

mind-blowing
  • Informal
28 5.1
staggering
24 5.3
stunning
83 4.1
shocking
278 3.4
surprising
433 1.8

Surface Forms

stunning positive
stunninger comparative
stunningest superlative

Morphology

stunning = stun (transparent) = stun + ing

Formed by adding the adjectival/present-participle suffix '-ing' to 'stun', keeping the core meaning of producing a powerful or shocking effect.

Etymology

Stunning comes from stun, which meant 'to make someone unable to move or think'. So a 'stunning' event is one that shocks you so much it leaves you speechless.