astonishing

adjective

as·​ton·​ish·​ing ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ How to pronounce astonishing (audio)
Synonyms of astonishing
: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder : surprising
an astonishing discovery
astonishingly
ə-ˈstä-ni-shiŋ-lē How to pronounce astonishing (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of astonishing

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Examples of astonishing in a Sentence

He showed an astonishing lack of concern for others. The truck can hold an astonishing amount of stuff. She gave an astonishing performance in her first film.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
However, due to headwinds, that was reduced to 74 minutes, which was and still continues to be an astonishing achievement. — Dhananjay Khadilkar, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 It’s expected to perform an astonishing number of tasks simultaneously. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026 The details were astonishing, not only in their quantity but in their quality. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 The company enjoyed astonishing sales growth during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when households discovered the joys of cocktail-making. — Ian King, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for astonishing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of astonish

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of astonishing was in 1593

Rhymes for astonishing

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Browse Nearby Words

astonishedly
astonishing
astonishment
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Cite this Entry

“Astonishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astonishing. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on astonishing

Nglish: Translation of astonishing for Spanish Speakers

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