stun
1 of 2verb
ˈstən 
stunned; stunning
transitive verb
1
: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow : daze
2
: to shock with noise
3
: to overcome especially with paralyzing astonishment or disbelief
stun
2 of 2noun
: the effect of something that stuns : shock
Synonyms
Verb
- daze
- rock
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The angry criticism stunned them. His old friends were stunned at his success. She sat in stunned disbelief. There was a stunned expression on her face. weapons that can stun people temporarily
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 July 2022 La Costa Canyon got a dramatic game-tying HR in the top of the seventh inning, then scored seven runs in the top of the eighth to stun top-seeded Granite Hills and win the San Diego Section Open Division championship. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2022 Beginning with a one-dribble, pull-up jumper in the face of Eli Brooks, the Wolverines’ best perimeter defender, Plummer splashed four 3s in less than six minutes to stun an energetic crowd. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2022 Led by Duff, the Lobos hit 8 of 12 from three-point range to stun the Beavers’ defense and take a 30-16 lead. oregonlive, 24 Mar. 2022 Arizona State basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne announces retirement following 25 seasons Arizona Coyotes hold on to stun NHL-best Colorado Avalanche Photos: ASU basketball vs. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 On Monday, Davis scored 37 points, which was really just the tip of the iceberg in a monumental performance that helped the Wisconsin Badgers stun No. 3 Purdue, 74-69, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2022 What the bombs spare often sops up cyanide, which local fishers squirt into the nooks and crannies of reefs to stun small fish and sell them in the aquarium trade. Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 4 Nov. 2021 Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-ending grand slam off major league saves leader Josh Hader for San Francisco’s third homer of the ninth inning, and the Giants rallied from a three-run deficit to stun the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Friday night. Michael Wagaman, ajc, 16 July 2022 See More
Verb
The tiny-but-mighty pistol shrimp can snap its claws with sufficient force to produce a shock wave to stun its prey. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 July 2022 La Costa Canyon got a dramatic game-tying HR in the top of the seventh inning, then scored seven runs in the top of the eighth to stun top-seeded Granite Hills and win the San Diego Section Open Division championship. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2022 Beginning with a one-dribble, pull-up jumper in the face of Eli Brooks, the Wolverines’ best perimeter defender, Plummer splashed four 3s in less than six minutes to stun an energetic crowd. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2022 Led by Duff, the Lobos hit 8 of 12 from three-point range to stun the Beavers’ defense and take a 30-16 lead. oregonlive, 24 Mar. 2022 Arizona State basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne announces retirement following 25 seasons Arizona Coyotes hold on to stun NHL-best Colorado Avalanche Photos: ASU basketball vs. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 On Monday, Davis scored 37 points, which was really just the tip of the iceberg in a monumental performance that helped the Wisconsin Badgers stun No. 3 Purdue, 74-69, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2022 What the bombs spare often sops up cyanide, which local fishers squirt into the nooks and crannies of reefs to stun small fish and sell them in the aquarium trade. Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 4 Nov. 2021 Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-ending grand slam off major league saves leader Josh Hader for San Francisco’s third homer of the ninth inning, and the Giants rallied from a three-run deficit to stun the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Friday night. Michael Wagaman, ajc, 16 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English stonen, stunen, from Anglo-French estoner — more at astonish
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1727, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing stun
Kids Definition
stun
verb
ˈstən
stunned; stunning
1
: to make dizzy or senseless by or as if by a blow
The bird laid stunned after crashing into the window.
2
: to affect with shock or confusion : fill with disbelief
He was stunned by the news.
Medical Definition
stun
transitive verb
ˈstən
stunned; stunning
: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow
stunned 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in amazed
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise realizing that they had been left out of the will, the billionaire's relatives just sat there, stunned Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- amazed
- shocked
- astonished
- surprised
- horrified
- appalled
- dumbstruck
- astounded
- dumbfounded
- thunderstruck
- flabbergasted
- awestruck
- startled
- stupefied
- dumfounded
- awestricken
- bewildered
- aghast
- dazed
- blindsided
- overwhelmed
- bowled over
- confused
- dismayed
- awed
- surprized
- awesome
- openmouthed
- agape
- widemouthed
- wide-eyed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unruffled
- nonchalant
- casual
- blasé
- blase
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion the loud noise left her momentarily stunned Synonyms & Similar Words
- bewildered
- dazed
- confused
- distracted
- dizzy
- bemused
- befuddled
- stupefied
- silly
- bedeviled
- at sea
- confounded
- muddleheaded
- fogged
- dopey
- shell-shocked
- unconscious
- raddled
- punchy
- zonked
- pixilated
- addled
- befogged
- muzzy
- slaphappy
- punch-drunk
- spacey
- addlepated
- bushed
- addle
- pixillated
- zonked-out
- out of it
- spaced
- mixed-up
- dopy
- spacy
- spaced-out
- senseless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conscious
- clearheaded
- alert
stunned
2 of 2verb
1
as in dazed
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow a powerful uppercut to the jaw stunned the boxer and sent him crashing to the canvas Synonyms & Similar Words
- dazed
- rocked
- paralyzed
- slammed
- hit
- struck
- punched
- stupefied
- smacked
- slapped
- knocked silly
- pounded
- deadened
- banged
- numbed
- battered
- benumbed
- beat
- knocked for a loop
- knocked out
- whacked
- chopped
- pummeled
- clobbered
- socked
- bludgeoned
- thumped
- hammered
- mauled
- bashed
- buffeted
- bonked
- slugged
- clocked
- thwacked
- bopped
- rapped
- mangled
- swatted
- pasted
- walloped
- smote
- knocked down
- whaled
- bowled over
- drubbed
- pelted
- cuffed
- pummelled
- belted
- clouted
- bunged
2
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news of their boss's termination stunned the staff Synonyms & Similar Words
- amazed
- surprised
- shocked
- astonished
- startled
- astounded
- dumbfounded
- flabbergasted
- stupefied
- rocked
- thunderstruck
- bewildered
- perplexed
- dumfounded
- dazed
- nonplussed
- floored
- surprized
- befuddled
- disconcerted
- confused
- dismayed
- took aback
- blindsided
- bowled over
- discomfited
- took by surprise
- nonplused
- jarred
- confounded
- muddled
- blew away
- shook up
- knocked for a loop
- in gear
- in general
- in glowing terms
- in God's name
- in good
- in good etc. condition
- in good faith
- in good graces
- in good hands
- in good nick
- in good numbers
- in good part
- in good physical condition
- in good taste
- in good time
- in good voice
- in good with
- in good working condition
- in good working order
- in good/great/large part
- in good/safe hands
- in gory detail
- in great part
- in greeting
- in gremio