1
as in stressed
suffering from high levels of physical and especially psychological stress
even after the long furlough, the returning soldiers still felt a little shell-shocked
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
shell-shocked survivors who were in dire need of every kind of help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shell-shocked
In December 2023, content creator Harinder Singh claimed to have spoken to Webb's older brother, Kayden, who allegedly said that Ryker was healthy and safe, but that he'd been traumatized and shell-shocked during the immediate aftermath of the incident.
—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
They were left shell-shocked and betrayed.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Then, carbon-copy goals from Brittany Ratcliffe and Madison Mercado — who got on the end of crosses whipped in by Sofia Huerta in the 26th and 33rd minutes — saw the Current shell-shocked down 3-0 in the 33rd minute.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
The former was shell-shocked by one of the worst offensive lines imaginable in 2021 and eventually flat-lined.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
That likability should help appease an employee base which has become shell-shocked with cuts and layoffs over decades of mergers.
—
Lillian Rizzo,alex Sherman,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
But what left investors shell-shocked was third quarter guidance that pegged revenues to be down 9 percent to 11 percent.
—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
McCartney added, still visibly amused and a bit shell-shocked at their Ed Sullivan Show-era American reception.
—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
They were left shell-shocked and betrayed.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Then, carbon-copy goals from Brittany Ratcliffe and Madison Mercado — who got on the end of crosses whipped in by Sofia Huerta in the 26th and 33rd minutes — saw the Current shell-shocked down 3-0 in the 33rd minute.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
The former was shell-shocked by one of the worst offensive lines imaginable in 2021 and eventually flat-lined.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
That likability should help appease an employee base which has become shell-shocked with cuts and layoffs over decades of mergers.
—
Lillian Rizzo,alex Sherman,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
But what left investors shell-shocked was third quarter guidance that pegged revenues to be down 9 percent to 11 percent.
—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
McCartney added, still visibly amused and a bit shell-shocked at their Ed Sullivan Show-era American reception.
—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell-shocked
Adjective
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On top of that, supporting developing fruit requires a lot of energy and moisture from plants, and leaving ripe fruit on plants too long can make plants more stressed and vulnerable to drying out.
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With the fifth and final season of The Bear premiering on Hulu, there's no shortage of chaos for the show's perpetually stressed chefs.
Adjective
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Like Mahrez, Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer seemed slightly dazed following the topsy-turvy turn of events.
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Humans of all ages, in fact, stare dazed into glowing screens.
Adjective
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Fido was fine, if a little bewildered, and in February 1973, the board lifted its book bans.
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At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
Adjective
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Keke Palmer was confused about why she wasn't asked to emcee the event.
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The competing corridors have left them confused, forcing them to navigate not only the treacherous waters – facing threats from sea mines, aerial drones, and Revolutionary Guard patrol boats – but also the complex political currents across the strait.
Adjective
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And when Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte evened the score with a right footed shot from a difficult angle at the 59-minute mark, the stunned stadium went silent, minus two small spirited clots of Cape Verde fans in the East end zone seats.
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Fans jumped up and down after Folarin Balogun punched in what seemed to be the game’s first goal near the 31-minute mark, then expressed stunned disbelief when the striker was deemed offsides.
Adjective
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Some big rubber balls had been tossed in to keep them distracted.
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The problem, Larson said, is that Congress was highly distracted at the time with passing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
Cite this Entry
“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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