staggering

[stag-uh-ring]

adjective

1. tending to stagger or overwhelm.

   a staggering amount of money required in the initial investment.

ˈstaggering

/ ˈstæɡərɪŋ /

adjective

1. astounding or overwhelming; shocking

   a staggering increase in demand

Other Word Forms

• staggeringly adverb
• unstaggering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of staggering¹

First recorded in 1555–65; stagger + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Aligned with that has been a staggering increase in the number of goals conceded in a particular way, from teams losing possession in their own half of the pitch.

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Some said Miles had borrowed money and not repaid it, while one person posted a receipt from a London nightclub with a staggering bill, saying: "Where's your friend? He owes me £200k."

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But again, planning for the possibility of long-term care and its attendant—and possibly staggering—costs is essential.

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He also said in January 2024 that he had undergone a staggering “seven surgeries in five years,” including a procedure on his spine in September 2023.

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“During hyperphagia, a bear entering a home would be more likely,” she said, noting that bears are seeking a staggering 20,000 to 25,000 calories a day as winter approaches.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amazing 
• astonishing 
• astounding 
• mind-boggling 
• shocking 
• stunning