dumbfounded

American

[duhm-foun-did, duhm-foun-] / dʌmˈfaʊn dɪd, ˈdʌmˌfaʊn- /

Or dumfounded

adjective

speechless with amazement; astonished or showing astonishment.

I smiled at the dumbfounded look on their faces as their eyes widened and their mouths fell slack.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of dumbfound.

Etymology

Origin of dumbfounded

dumbfound ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

When you're dumbfounded, you're amazed. Being dumbfounded is an extreme form of being surprised or caught off guard. Being dumbfounded is not something that happens every day: this is a word that means something similar to astonished and gobsmacked. Only things that are extraordinary can dumbfound you. This word plays on an older meaning of dumb that means unable to speak. When you're dumbfounded, you're so astounded and shocked that you can't even speak. Save this word for occasions that are truly unusual and amazing.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing dumbfounded

In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Portmanteaus: Vocab Mash-Ups

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Sea of Monsters

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

Huckabee, however, appeared dumbfounded: “I’m totally unable to process what you’re trying to get at.”

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026

American skater Nathan Chen, the Beijing men's individual gold medallist, was dumbfounded, saying: "What a shock".

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

“I’m kind of just dumbfounded why it’s going up so much,” said Chad Smith, 51, who with his wife owns a landscaping company in Coeur d’Alene.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

He said Mr Crocker was "dumbfounded", adding: "He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it was so quick, either."

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

For a full minute or two, I stared dumbfounded at the ring on my finger.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023