stunned

[stuhnd]

adjective

1. deprived of consciousness or strength.

   When the fish came close enough, they would get bopped on the head with a club or an axe by the fishermen, who would then drag the stunned fish into the boat.

2. showing or reflecting astonishment, shock, or bewilderment.

   A stunned spectator managed a "You're kidding?" but nothing more.

   The curtain fell to a stunned silence, and then rapturous applause and hysterical laughter.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of stun.

Other Word Forms

• unstunned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stunned¹

stun ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Some literally stuffed late-payment notices down the throats of stunned debt collectors.

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Industry veterans were stunned by the speed of Paramount’s play for Warner Bros.

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And performer La Voix's Waltz left the audience and judges in a stunned silence, after a magical waltz in which she became Mary Poppins.

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The organiser of an annual vigil held to mark the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has told a court she was "stunned" after being approached by the alleged stalker of the missing girl's parents.

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Then, by chance, his wife wore a Victoria Beckham dress to date night; stunned by the quality of the garment, he changed his mind.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amazed 
• astonished 
• bewildered 
• confused 
• dismayed 
• floored 
• overwhelmed 
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• speechless 
• startled 
• surprised www.thesaurus.com