shell-shocked

adjective

ˈshel-ˌshäkt How to pronounce shell-shocked (audio)
Definition of shell-shockednext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shell-shocked At halftime, as Duke’s players tersely ran back to the locker room with Siena ahead 43-32, the Blue Devils — and their extended traveling party — were shell-shocked. — Brendan Marks, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026 At halftime of Wednesday night’s game against Villanova at Finneran Pavilion, the UConn women’s basketball team looked shell-shocked. — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026 Despite being billed as the head and heart of the new and improved Tender, Henry actually freezes in the meeting with the regulator, shell-shocked by a single reference to his failure at Lumi. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for shell-shocked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell-shocked
  1. stressed
  2. dazed
  3. bewildered
  4. confused
  5. stunned
  6. distracted
Adjective
  • Using the wrong technique can expose your bush to fungal issues and limit how much water reaches the root zone, leading to a stressed plant that looks lackluster.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Realizing that you’re not merely stressed but also grieving, for example, might not produce an obvious next step.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of stressed
Adjective
  • Daemon struggles to his feet, dazed, and begins cleaving his way through the smouldering city.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Grutman approaches Hart’s character, who is on the ground dazed and disheveled from a wild night out.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of dazed
Adjective
  • On Douban, a popular Chinese movie-review platform, viewers piled on with mocking and bewildered comments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That's when Penix, who was standing nearby, pointed at him and made a bewildered face.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Adjective
  • The agent sitting next to him on the plane also seemed confused.
    — Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The Citi Field crowd seemed both confused and enthused when the opening notes of Jackson’s 1982 hit began to play.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • That changes when the Munsons arrive with their house guest, cousin Diana, whose good looks leave them stunned.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Motorcycle gunmen opened fire on Gastélum as stunned viewers watched online.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • In 2022, there were 3,308 fatalities in crashes due to distracted driving.
    — Diana Anos, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Numerous model premieres kept us more distracted than usual from the concours competition itself, which is why our following list of favorites is primarily focused on what’s shiny and new.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracted

Browse Nearby Words

shells
shell-shocked
shells out
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Cite this Entry

“Shell-shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell-shocked. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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