variants
also dumfounded
1
as in stunned
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise
dumbfounded by the realization that he had just won the grand prize in the multistate lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amazed
filled with amazement or wonder
dumbfounded visitors to the Grand Canyon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also dumfounded
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the surprise ending will dumbfound even the most seasoned mystery reader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dumbfounded
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
In the first-look image released on Wednesday, Hoffman is staring, almost dumbfounded, at a smirking, blonde-wigged Wilde, who is dressed for the part of dominatrix.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
The White House has said the president does not believe the lawmakers should be killed, but even Republicans have been left dumbfounded by his response.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 25 Nov. 2025
Ron says, comically dumbfounded.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
The leaders of a group that searched for it at the end of June were dumbfounded when the King suddenly appeared on sonar, said Brendon Baillod, president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Morning Show costars and friends of nearly three decades both learned something new about each other in a recent interview with LADbible, as Aniston, 56, was left dumbfounded after learning that Reese is not actually Witherspoon's name.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
But all that has left many small and medium-sized vendors dumbfounded as to why Saks has not kept its promise to pay its bills, while larger vendors and luxury conglomerates — LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Richemont and Kering — have been getting paid.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 29 Dec. 2025
But now that the project has been abruptly terminated, leaving veterans dumbfounded by the decision.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
The release, which Taco Bell says is one of its most exclusive ever, has some fans dumbfounded and others ready to dive right in.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Cubs fans who have caught Brewers games of late have likely been dumbfounded by their performance.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Colorado has lost four of the past six games, and doubled the amount of regulation losses since Cooper’s dumbfounded laugh.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
In the first-look image released on Wednesday, Hoffman is staring, almost dumbfounded, at a smirking, blonde-wigged Wilde, who is dressed for the part of dominatrix.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
The White House has said the president does not believe the lawmakers should be killed, but even Republicans have been left dumbfounded by his response.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 25 Nov. 2025
Ron says, comically dumbfounded.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
The leaders of a group that searched for it at the end of June were dumbfounded when the King suddenly appeared on sonar, said Brendon Baillod, president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Morning Show costars and friends of nearly three decades both learned something new about each other in a recent interview with LADbible, as Aniston, 56, was left dumbfounded after learning that Reese is not actually Witherspoon's name.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
But all that has left many small and medium-sized vendors dumbfounded as to why Saks has not kept its promise to pay its bills, while larger vendors and luxury conglomerates — LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Richemont and Kering — have been getting paid.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Even though officials describe work release as a form of custody, the fact that Brom was getting a measure of freedom outraged and dumbfounded many legislators, law enforcement officials and members of the community with knowledge and memories of the horrific crime.
—Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 29 Dec. 2025
But now that the project has been abruptly terminated, leaving veterans dumbfounded by the decision.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
The release, which Taco Bell says is one of its most exclusive ever, has some fans dumbfounded and others ready to dive right in.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Cubs fans who have caught Brewers games of late have likely been dumbfounded by their performance.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumbfounded
Adjective
-
Gianluigi Donnarumma looked stunned.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Playing 40 minutes of perhaps unfamiliar material before getting to the hits sounds challenging and, to be sure, some of the more lubricated audience members sat in stunned silence.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, Bad Bunny — aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — focused on how is amazed by his good fortune.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And amazed at what transpired in his comeback game.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Martin highlighted the findings, which mostly conformed to his expectations but still surprised him in the magnitude of the angst over the work situationship.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, which operates Gemini, said in a recent interview that he was surprised by OpenAI’s decision to monetize the chatbot through ads this early.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Reigning champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman, also known as MJF, looked shocked as the chant began, staring into the camera wide eyed before scanning the crowd.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Fans shared their shocked reactions to the incident on social media.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even some fellow Olympians are astonished.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Union leaders and hotel honchos were astonished to find Mayor Newsom out on the picket line, calling out the capitalists.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And she is just completely dumbstruck by that.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The parents at this kind of show, of course, are less dumbstruck than the kids: The card is not floating but instead swinging on some string.—
Joseph Vukov,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2024
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dumbfounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumbfounded. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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