Thesaurus results for FLABBERGAST

Q: How does the verb 'flabbergast' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flabbergast are amaze , astonish , astound , and surprise . While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay. // flabbergasted by his angry refusal

Q: When would 'amaze' be a good substitute for 'flabbergast'?

The words amaze and flabbergast can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment. // amazed by the immense size of the place

Q: When is 'astonish' a more appropriate choice than 'flabbergast'?

The meanings of astonish and flabbergast largely overlap; however, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible. // a discovery that astonished the world

Q: When might 'astound' be a better fit than 'flabbergast'?

While in some cases nearly identical to flabbergast , astound stresses the shock of astonishment. // too astounded to respond

Q: Where would 'surprise' be a reasonable alternative to 'flabbergast'?

In some situations, the words surprise and flabbergast are roughly equivalent. However, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel. // surprised to find them at home

flabbergast

verb

ˈfla-bər-ˌgast

Definition of flabbergast next

as in to amaze

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb flabbergast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flabbergast are amaze, astonish, astound, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When would amaze be a good substitute for flabbergast?

The words amaze and flabbergast can be used in similar contexts, but amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is astonish a more appropriate choice than flabbergast?

The meanings of astonish and flabbergast largely overlap; however, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When might astound be a better fit than flabbergast?

While in some cases nearly identical to flabbergast, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would surprise be a reasonable alternative to flabbergast?

In some situations, the words surprise and flabbergast are roughly equivalent. However, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of flabbergast Shapiro was flabbergasted and offended. —

Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026 Not only was the hockey world surprised, Sennecke himself was flabbergasted. —

Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026 Hong Kong Restaurant A fixture in downtown Nampa, the Chinese food destination abruptly closed in September, leaving customers flabbergasted, saddened and nostalgic. —

Michael Deeds january 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Jan. 2026 There he was flabbergasted to discover video footage of a woman wearing a dark Balenciaga sack dress on the streets of Paris in the ’50s, encountering curiosity and visible scorn. —

Miles Socha, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flabbergast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flabbergast

Verb

The imposing tower never ceases to amaze local resident Ogden Driskill, whose family has ranched on the land at its base for generations.

— Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
When Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone at America’s Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the invention amazed the crowd.

— David H. Hsu, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Definition of amaze

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“Flabbergast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flabbergast. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of flabbergast

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