dumbfound

American  

[duhm-found, duhm-found] / dʌmˈfaʊnd, ˈdʌmˌfaʊnd /

Also dumbfounder, or dumfound

verb (used with object)

1. to make speechless with amazement; astonish.

   Synonyms:

   stagger, astound, confound, amaze

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dumbfound British  

/ dʌmˈfaʊnd /

verb

1. (tr) to strike dumb with astonishment; amaze

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Other Word Forms

• dumbfounderment
  noun
• dumfounderment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dumbfound

First recorded in 1645–55; dumb + (con)found

Explanation

The verb dumbfound means to puzzle, mystify, or amaze. If people never expected you to amount to much in high school, but you grew up to be a rocket scientist, you will surely dumbfound your former classmates at your next reunion. The word dumbfound is a combination of the words dumb and confound. Dumb, in the original sense, means unable to speak. Confound is from the Latin word confundere, which means to mix together as well as to confuse. Thus the blended word dumbfound has the sense of to confuse to the point of speechlessness. If you see a solar eclipse for the first time, it might dumbfound you.

Related Words

• amaze
• astonish
• bewilder
• boggle
• confound
• flabbergast
• nonplus
• puzzle
• startle
• stun