as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowl over
Those musings have caused alarm among some critics who have watched the president bowl over guardrails and norms in his first two months back in office.
—
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
In a bowl over simmering water (aka double boiler), melt butter, chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2025
Step 3 Place a second medium heatproof bowl over the pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
Place the bowl over the pot and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture is fully melted and satiny smooth, about 5 minutes.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
In a bowl over simmering water (aka double boiler), melt butter, chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2025
Step 3 Place a second medium heatproof bowl over the pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
Place the bowl over the pot and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture is fully melted and satiny smooth, about 5 minutes.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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Don’t be surprised when the Avs win Game 6, 17-2. If the Stars had their complete lineup, this would not be a close series.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2025
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The truth is no one should be surprised by the swift start.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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What amazes me is that after Covid, a lot of the business became transactional.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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This isn't the first time a thrift store find has amazed the internet.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Broadus stunned in a plush pink coat and matching fedora.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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In February 2013, Benedict stunned the Catholic world by becoming the first pope in six centuries to retire.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The manhunt The slaying of Pascal shocked in the Upper Florida Keys community, which, while certainly not immune from crime, rarely experiences brutal murders.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
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One father, a lawyer who teaches constitutional law, was shocked by the university’s roughshod treatment of his son and students and the ease with which administrators disregarded their rights.—
Wynn Smiley,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.—
Rob Mank,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 Apr. 2025
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But the website also has messages about residents being startled, as Catanzaro was, by stealthy contractors with air guns.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, the Cincinnati Reds star became a polarizing figure when news of his gambling on games rocked the sports world.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Investors looking for winners in the age of AI should follow the advice of Don Valentine, the late founder of Sequoia Capital. Tariffs and tech—these twin forces are rocking the world, from markets to militaries.—
Rich Karlgaard,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Licence utilisation among the initial user base exceeded 80 percent, a figure that astonished even the bank’s AI leadership team.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Hotel manager Anders Reinertsen, who oversees operations of staterooms and public areas, told me he was astonished to be able to hear kayakers paddling while sailing through Geirangerfjord because the ship is so quiet.—
Blane Bachelor,
AFAR Media,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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