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Synonyms

flabbergast

American  
[flab-er-gast] / ˈflæb ərˌgæst /

verb (used with object)

  1. to overcome with surprise and bewilderment; astound.

    Synonyms:
    mystify, confuse, perplex, confound, nonplus, stagger, astonish, amaze

flabbergast British  
/ ˈflæbəˌɡɑːst /

verb

  1. informal to overcome with astonishment; amaze utterly; astound

"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

Other Word Forms

  • flabbergaster noun

Etymology

Origin of flabbergast

1765–75; variant of flabagast (perhaps flabb(y) + aghast )

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.

Though I generally stuck to the main questline and sidequests, the optional tombs that I sampled were diverting puzzle boxes that sometimes stumped me but didn’t flabbergast me.

From Washington Post • Sep. 10, 2018

Sections on the possibility of artificial consciousness would flabbergast even Philip K. Dick.

From New York Times • Aug. 16, 2018

A feature on jargon in "soccer" - the American terms that leave Brits reeling and the British terms that flabbergast Americans - generated a huge response from readers.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2013

"Also it is said of him that while his heart entitles him to the respect and even the affection of mankind, the quality of his intellect is such as constantly to flabbergast his best friends."

From Time Magazine Archive

It takes a lot to flabbergast Jack, as I learned when he was my "Lightning Conductor"; but he certainly did look flabbergasted this time.

From The Lightning Conductor Discovers America by Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris)