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View synonyms for

stunning

[ stuhn-ing ]

adjective

  1. causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength:

    a stunning blow.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. of striking beauty or excellence:

    a stunning dress you're wearing!



stunning

/ ˈʌɪŋ /

adjective

  1. informal.
    very attractive, impressive, astonishing, etc
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٳܲԲԾԲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ٳܲnԲ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stunning1

First recorded in 1660–70; stun + -ing 2
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In a stunning reversal, that gargantuan mammal had caught me.

From

Littler took out a stunning 160 to move a leg away and nodded to the crowd before gesturing to them to calm down.

From

Martire finds inspiration for his compositions in the many places he has traveled and is always looking for the next stunning natural vista in which to perform.

From

And yet the chapels, mosaics and gilded wood of Santa Maria Maggiore remain stunning.

From

In the 120th minute, substitute Kobbie Mainoo cut inside his man and bent a stunning, curling strike into the bottom far corner.

From

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More About Stunning

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. 

Where does stunning come from?

The first records of stunning come from around 1660. It combines the word stun, meaning “to daze, astonish, or overwhelm” and the suffix -ing. If something is stunning, then it is going to stun a person in one way or another.

Stunning refers to things, actions, or people that are so overwhelming that you have to pause for a moment. Stunning is used both positively and negatively.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to stunning?

  • stunningly (adverb)

are some synonyms for stunning?

are some words that share a root or word element with stunning?

are some words that often get used in discussing stunning?

How is stunning used in real life?

Stunning is a common word that people use to attempt to describe things, events, or people that have overwhelmed them.

Try using stunning!

Which of the following words is a synonym of stunning?

A. boring
B. amazing
C. terrible
D. good

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