gobsmacked
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does gobsmacked mean? Gobsmacked is an adjective that means completely shocked. The word gobsmacked comes from England and Scotland, where it is used as slang to express extreme shock. Gobsmacked is often used by people from these areas. Example: She was absolutely gobsmacked when she discovered a large pile of money under the floorboards.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gobsmacked
Explanation
To be gobsmacked is to be very surprised or astonished. You'd probably be gobsmacked if an alien spaceship landed in your front yard. Imagine how stunned you'd be if you were abruptly smacked in the mouth for no reason: This is where the word gobsmacked originated, from the Irish gob, or "mouth," and smack, or "hit." When you're gobsmacked, you're utterly shocked, overwhelmed, or taken aback. "When my dog was elected mayor of our town, we were all gobsmacked."
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.
Halperin’s accusers were gobsmacked to see Kelly, who’d once given them a sympathetic platform on the Today show, turn around and mastermind his comeback.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
I’m completely gobsmacked by this situation, as I truly believed he was doing fine.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026
And at first, Utah residents were gobsmacked by his presence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026
He even, one source claimed to me, told the chief whip when challenged on the morning of his defection that it was "nonsense" and that he was "gobsmacked".
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026
If the musk ox were telling this story, he would tell you that Duane’s suggestion left him gobsmacked, and that likely would have left you scratching your head like Duane and wondering what “gobsmacked” meant.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
