Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amaze contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of amaze are astonish, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When would astonish be a good substitute for amaze?

The synonyms astonish and amaze are sometimes interchangeable, but astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

In what contexts can astound take the place of amaze?

The words astound and amaze can be used in similar contexts, but astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to amaze?

The meanings of flabbergast and amaze largely overlap; however, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When could surprise be used to replace amaze?

While the synonyms surprise and amaze are close in meaning, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amaze While the dazzling auroras might’ve amazed our ancestors, the weak magnetic field intensified ultraviolet and cosmic radiation. New Atlas, 10 May 2025 The way Yamal is handling his rise does not cease to amaze. Pol Ballús, New York Times, 12 May 2025 Regardless of how or why, that drive continues to amaze me. Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 What amazes me is that after Covid, a lot of the business became transactional. Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amaze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amaze
Verb
  • But none of them have surprised me with their brilliance.
    Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Today's teen slang might seem like complete gibberish, but you may be surprised by how many terms echo phrases from the past.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • While there, the delegates were given a tour of some of the Vatican’s collection and were astonished to see treasured relics stored thousands of miles away from the communities who once used them.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
  • From that first puck drop, Jackson was astonished by the speed and intensity of a playoff game compared with a regular-season game.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The Pacers hold a 2-0 series lead after stunning the Knicks at MSG in Games 1 and 2.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
  • Related article Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana Pacers stun New York Knicks in overtime to take Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals Siakam insisted, however, that he and his teammates were not getting distracted by the prospect of writing their names in franchise history.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps there is some potential for hypersonics here, but I would be shocked to ever see a satellite launched into orbit from a fighter jet.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
  • The incident, which saw a car veer across a packed street in the center of Liverpool and plough through crowds of supporters, shocked the city and the football world.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The device startles seals hanging around salmon run obstacles and drives them away from the buffet.
    Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
  • The trailer opens with Kate (Moore) startled by the sudden appearance of her troubled daughter Claire (Sweeney) on her doorstep covered in rain and blood.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • The Juneteenth show in Texas was the culmination of an unlikely rise, literally to the clouds, for a Black woman whose courage still astounds a century later.
    Victor Luckerson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
  • But still many have been astounded by the speed with which his administration broke from decades-long defense policies.
    Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amaze. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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