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Definition of astonishment

astonishment

/əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
as · ton · ish · ment
Adverb:astonishingly
•
Plural:astonishments
•
Adjective:astonished
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astonishment Lexical Profile

astonishment Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A feeling of great surprise and wonder triggered by something unexpected or extraordinary.

Example

"She stared in pure astonishment as the magician made the entire stage disappear."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for astonishment
Antonyms
View all antonyms for astonishment

• Rhymes for astonishment

• Nearby Words

astonish
astonishing
astonishingly
astonishment
astound
astounding
astoundingly

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 16th century from the verb 'astonish' plus the suffix '-ment'. 'Astonish' derives from Middle English 'astonen', from Old French 'estoner' (to stun or daze), which traces back to Vulgar Latin '*extonare', meaning literally 'to leave someone thunderstruck' (from Latin 'ex-', out, and 'tonare', to thunder).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Astonishment. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/astonishment
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