as in suddenly
without warning
completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving
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Recent Examples of aback
Rather than getting tied to the likes of a large heavy-duty Mercedes Zetros or MAN TGS cab, the new Bliss 8 is designed to ride aback smaller, nimbler 4x4 chassis like the Toyota Land Cruiser or Ford F-Series.
—
New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025
Not all of them will necessarily fall under the legislation, and any can challenge their inclusion, but the breadth of platforms Inman Grant was considering took some Australians aback and confused others.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Related Stories Saarinen has been voicing similar concerns for years – but the latest development still took him aback.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Rodgers took some players aback by his just-one-of-the-guys approach.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aback
New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025
Not all of them will necessarily fall under the legislation, and any can challenge their inclusion, but the breadth of platforms Inman Grant was considering took some Australians aback and confused others.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Related Stories Saarinen has been voicing similar concerns for years – but the latest development still took him aback.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Rodgers took some players aback by his just-one-of-the-guys approach.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aback
Adverb
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The Dodgers, billed in spring as having too much pitching, suddenly have questions about their pitching.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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During class, Mark suddenly collapsed after going into cardiac arrest.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Adverb
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Larson unexpectedly died of an aortic dissection the night before the show’s first off-Broadway performance in 1996.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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Mortgage rates can change suddenly and unexpectedly, especially in the current economic landscape.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aback. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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