zounds
- interjection
- /zaʊndz/
- Archaic
:
¡zounds!
- Zounds! I did not expect to see you here tonight.
Examples
-
He dropped the vase and shouted, 'Zounds! That was close.'
-
In old plays, characters often exclaim 'Zounds!' when surprised or upset.
-
Oh, zounds! I never expected that!
-
Did you hear him say 'zounds' during the meeting?
-
Zounds! I did not expect to see you here tonight.
-
Oh, zounds! I never expected that!
-
He dropped the vase and shouted, 'Zounds! That was close.'
Synonyms
422
7.5
A small amount of care or worry about something
24
9.9
A word people say to show mild surprise
17
9.4
A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling
16
8.3
A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement
8
9.9
An old-fashioned shout showing surprise, anger, or strong feeling
7
9.1
A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain
5
7.5
A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock
4
9.9
A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance
4
8.9
A short sharp cry showing surprise, fear, or excitement
4
9.1
A soft sound you make when something feels good or brings relief
4
9.5
A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked
4
9.9
A short cry people make to show strong feelings like anger or pain
3
9.9
A short sound people make to show surprise or admiration
3
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise or shock
2
9.9
An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something
1
9.9
An old-fashioned word said to show surprise or strong feeling
1
9.9
A short word people say to show surprise, discomfort, or embarrassment
An old word people say to show surprise, anger, or shock
An old-fashioned shout said to show surprise or shock
An old-fashioned shout to show surprise or annoyance
An old exclamation used to show surprise
An old word that people say to show surprise or strong feeling
A word people used long ago to show surprise
An old-fashioned word people say to show surprise
A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance
A rude spoken word used to show surprise, anger or admiration
A short cry of sudden surprise or fear
A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief
A short shout people use to show surprise or excitement, often in a playful way
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
How Strong
Surface Forms
Etymology
Zounds comes from an old oath that shortened God's wounds, meaning 'the wounds of Christ'. People used that strong religious cry to show shock or anger, and over time it became a short, old-fashioned exclamation for surprise or upset.