stunning
Americanadjective
-
causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength.
a stunning blow.
- Synonyms:
- astounding, numbing
-
of striking beauty or excellence.
What a stunning dress you're wearing!
adjective
Usage
What does stunning mean? Stunning essentially means something or someone causes such a huge impact that you are stunned from pain or a wave of emotion.Stunning can describe something or someone that literally causes physical pain, as in The kickboxer suffered a stunning blow to her face. Stunning is also used figuratively to describe something or someone that overwhelms you emotionally or has the potential to overwhelm you emotionally, as in The acrobats performed a stunning routine of flips and cartwheels. Finally, stunning can also describe something or someone that is especially beautiful or marvelous, as in The actress wore a stunning dress to the red carpet. You might also use dazzling or gorgeous.Example: In a stunning act of arrogance, the dictator built a solid gold statue of himself and placed it in the city square.
Other Word Forms
- stunningly adverb
Etymology
Origin of stunning
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a stunning turn of events, Netflix said that countering Paramount’s latest offer was “no longer financially attractive” and that it had decided to abandon its bid.
From MarketWatch
That stunning play would now be ruled as a catch in the UFL.
Tennis star Tommy Paul and his fiancee, Paige Lorenze, have shown off the stunning overhaul of their “dream home”—just one month after they listed their respective homes.
From MarketWatch
She has added two goals in five Women's Champions League starts - her stunning strike against Atletico Madrid sealed United's place in the quarter-finals.
From BBC
He couched the stunning breach of diplomatic norms as a necessity given sweeping U.S. security concerns in the region.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
