astounding

[uh-stoun-ding]

See more synonyms for astounding on Thesaurus.com

adjective

capable of overwhelming with amazement; stunningly surprising.

Origin of astounding

First recorded in 1580–90; astound + -ing²

Related formsas·tound·ing·ly, adverb

astound

[uh-stound]

verb (used with object)

to overwhelm with amazement; astonish greatly; shock with wonder or surprise.

adjective

Archaic. astonished; astounded.

Origin of astound

1275–1325; Middle English astoun(e)d, past participle of astonen, variant of astonyen to astonish

Related formsas·tound·ment, noun

Synonyms for astound

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1. See surprise.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for astounding

startling, breathtaking, surprising, astonishing, mind-boggling, wondrous, eye-popping, overwhelming, shocking, stupefying, confounding, mind-blowing

Examples from the Web for astounding

Contemporary Examples of astounding

To call Wild an emotional film would be an egregious disservice to its astounding journey to screen.
Crying With Laura Dern: The Star on Her Oscar-Worthy ‘Wild’ Turn
Kevin Fallon
December 3, 2014
Göring, of course, would amass an astounding collection of artwork himself, both purchased and stolen.
Top Nazis And Their Complicated Relationship With Artists
William O’Connor
November 30, 2014
Over the last fifty years, the federal government spent an astounding $2 trillion on education.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor
Veronique de Rugy
November 23, 2014
The dating process produced an astounding age of roughly 39,900 years old for the silhouetted handprints.
The Oldest Cave Art May Not Be in Europe
Justin Jones
October 9, 2014
Having worked in philanthropy myself, I can say that these figures are astounding.
The $1-Billion-a-Year Right-Wing Conspiracy You Haven’t Heard Of
Jay Michaelson
September 25, 2014

Historical Examples of astounding

The explanation of this astounding similarity will be given when we come to "Othello."
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
The charm of it all, the deathless charm and the astounding veracity!
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
It is astounding how ill-endowed Shakespeare was on the side of manliness.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
The inadequacy, the feebleness of the whole thing is astounding.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
Harvest after harvest Shakespeare brought forth of astounding quality.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris

British Dictionary definitions for astounding

astounding

adjective

causing amazement and wonder; bewildering

Derived Formsastoundingly, adverb

astound

verb

(tr) to overwhelm with amazement and wonder; bewilder

Word Origin for astound

C17: from astoned amazed, from Old French estoné, from estoner to astonish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for astounding

astound

mid-15c., from Middle English astouned, astoned (c.1300), past participle of astonen, astonien "to stun" (see astonish), with more of the original sense of Vulgar Latin *extonare. Related: Astounded; astounding.