stunning
Americanadjective
-
causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength.
a stunning blow.
- Synonyms:
- astounding, numbing
-
of striking beauty or excellence.
What a stunning dress you're wearing!
adjective
Usage
What does stunning mean? Stunning essentially means something or someone causes such a huge impact that you are stunned from pain or a wave of emotion. Stunning can describe something or someone that literally causes physical pain, as in The kickboxer suffered a stunning blow to her face. Stunning is also used figuratively to describe something or someone that overwhelms you emotionally or has the potential to overwhelm you emotionally, as in The acrobats performed a stunning routine of flips and cartwheels. Finally, stunning can also describe something or someone that is especially beautiful or marvelous, as in The actress wore a stunning dress to the red carpet. You might also use dazzling or gorgeous. Example: In a stunning act of arrogance, the dictator built a solid gold statue of himself and placed it in the city square.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of stunning
Explanation
Someone who is strikingly beautiful can be described as stunning. There's something magical about weddings that makes every bride look stunning. The adjective stunning also means causing astonishment, shock, or disbelief. If your basketball team suffers a stunning defeat, it comes at the hands of a rival team you were positive you would beat. Stunning is rooted in the Old French verb estoner, meaning to stun or shock, and it was used in the 1800s as a synonym for excellent. It's still used this way, particularly when something is really impressive, like the school mime troupe's stunning performance.
Vocabulary lists containing stunning
Unit 1: Telling Details
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!
Call of Beauty: Synonyms for "Beautiful"
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!
Unit 1: Telling Details
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.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar and her actor husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., have put their stunning Hamptons-stye Los Angeles home on the market for $10.5 million.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
"I would love for it to end up on display in Central Station so people can look at it and it can be appreciated as a stunning building," she said.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified on Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a couple of his questioners brought up a stunning new claim.
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
Moving outside, the property features a stunning backyard space, with a large swimming pool and built-in spa, a paved seating area, and a covered patio with plenty of room for outdoor dining.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
Adele was married on a hilltop, with a view of Kigali stretching out below, a stunning backdrop of red roofs and green hills.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
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.
