dumbstricken

9.8

So shocked that you cannot speak for a short time

adjective
/ˈdʌmstrɪkən/

: atónito

When he realized he had won the lottery, he stood dumbstricken in the middle of the street.

Examples

The audience sat dumbstricken after the magician’s astonishing final trick.
She stood there dumbstricken by the unexpected news.
She was dumbstricken by the unexpected announcement of her promotion.
He was dumbstricken when he heard the results.
The entire class was dumbstricken when the teacher announced a surprise holiday.
After hearing the shocking news, she stood dumbstricken and couldn't find the words to respond.
He was dumbstricken upon seeing his favorite band perform live for the first time.

Synonyms

surprised

vsdumbstricken

∞ 1.0

Feeling sudden wonder when something unexpected happens

is similar but commonly milder and may not stop speech or action

shocked

vsdumbstricken

519 2.1

Feeling surprised and upset because something bad or unexpected happens

is usually about astonishment and temporary silence, not upset or dread

amazed

vsdumbstricken

260 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

is similar but focuses on being too shocked to speak rather than wonder

stunned

vsdumbstricken

197 3.0

Too shocked to move or think clearly

is narrower, stressing temporary loss of speech rather than general numbness

speechless

vsdumbstricken

57 3.1

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

is similar but focuses on astonishment rather than all strong emotions

astonished

vsdumbstricken

55 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

is similar but stresses momentary loss of speech from surprise

astounded

vsdumbstricken

26 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

is similar but specifically causes temporary inability to speak

dumb

vsdumbstricken

NSFW

25 5.2

Unable to speak for a short time because of shock or surprise

is more specific to astonishment rather than any strong emotion generally

dumbfounded

vsdumbstricken

20 4.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is similar but stresses intense surprise more than temporary silence

flabbergasted

vsdumbstricken

15 6.7

Very surprised and unable to speak

is similar but can be slightly less dramatic in everyday use

thunderstruck

vsdumbstricken

6 7.0

Very surprised and unable to speak or move

is similar but emphasizes temporary inability to speak as main effect

nonplussed

vsdumbstricken

5 8.9

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

is similar but points to speechlessness from amazement rather than confusion

dumbstruck

vsdumbstricken

5 6.5

So shocked that you cannot speak

is identical in meaning and differs only as a variant form

stupefied

vsdumbstricken

5 7.0

Unable to think or react after a sudden shock

is more about being mute with amazement rather than mental dullness

gobsmacked

vsdumbstricken

4 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is comparable but may be less slangy or colloquial in tone

staggered

vsdumbstricken

4 4.4

Very surprised by something you did not expect

is similar but centers on being left speechless rather than shocked alone

wonder-struck

vsdumbstricken

1 7.2

Feeling very amazed by something beautiful or strange

is related but centers on speechlessness from surprise rather than pure wonder

awestricken

vsdumbstricken

1 8.6

Feeling great wonder and respect when seeing something impressive

is more about sudden silence from shock than reverent or fearful awe

astonied

vsdumbstricken

Archaic

1 9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

is more about becoming briefly speechless than general stunned feeling

Antonyms

unimpressed

19 4.0

Not thinking something is good or interesting

unfazed

11 5.3

Not worried or surprised by a sudden problem

How Shocked

dumbstricken

9.8

astonished

55 2.7

surprised

∞ 1.0

startled

75 3.3

Surface Forms

dumbstricken positive

Morphology

dumbstricken = dumb + stricken (transparent) = dumb + stricken

The meaning is directly derived from 'dumb' (speechless) + 'stricken' (affected), so learners can infer 'rendered speechless'.

Etymology

Dumbstricken is made of dumb ('silent') and stricken (from strike, 'to hit'). Picture being 'struck dumb' — surprised so much you cannot speak — and that is why dumbstricken means being so shocked you are temporarily without words.