absolutely astounded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely astounded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong sense of surprise or amazement about something. Example: "When I heard the news, I was absolutely astounded by the unexpected turn of events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

She said: "We are absolutely astounded.

The Guardian

"I'm absolutely astounded to see what's happened this week," Pawlett told the Official Charts Company.

The Guardian - Music

Their relatives, he said, "are absolutely astounded that these charges could be brought".

The New York Times

"People must have been absolutely astounded by Bobby Jones, but they didn't have TV or instant coverage.

The New York Times - Sports

I was absolutely astounded, and quite frankly shocked, that situations like this can still be happening in the modern society we live in.

The Guardian

"Given the high profile nature of this case and who he is, I would be absolutely astounded if there isn't some sort of unassailable record of these confessions".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"We were absolutely shocked and astounded that they continued batting into this morning, as it gave us a chance of seeing out the rest of the day.

BBC

astounded probably.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm astounded".

The New York Times - Food

There was an astounded silence.

The New Yorker

His story astounded U.S. officials.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely astounded" to convey a strong sense of surprise or amazement, especially when reacting to unexpected news or events. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, adding emphasis to your reaction.

Common error

While effective, "absolutely astounded" can sound overly dramatic in formal or academic writing. Opt for more nuanced expressions like "greatly surprised" or "deeply impressed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely astounded" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a subject and expressing a state of extreme surprise or amazement. This is validated by Ludwig, which provides several examples where the phrase is used to describe someone's reaction to an event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolutely astounded" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express strong surprise or amazement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples in diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media. While effective, it might be perceived as overly dramatic in formal writing. Alternatives like "completely amazed" or "utterly astonished" can offer a more nuanced expression. The phrase serves to emphasize a reaction, adding intensity to the narrative and is considered appropriate for neutral to informal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely amazed

Replaces "astounded" with "amazed" to soften the intensity while maintaining the sense of wonder.

utterly astonished

Substitutes "astounded" with "astonished" emphasizing the completeness of the surprise.

totally shocked

Conveys a stronger sense of surprise, implying a negative or unexpected event.

incredibly surprised

Uses "surprised" with "incredibly" to highlight the degree of astonishment.

extremely impressed

Indicates a positive surprise, focusing on admiration and approval.

absolutely flabbergasted

Replaces "astounded" with a more informal and emphatic term.

completely taken aback

Highlights the unexpected nature of the surprise, implying a momentary disorientation.

utterly dumbfounded

Implies a loss of speech due to surprise, suggesting a stronger reaction.

astonished beyond words

Emphasizes that the feeling of surprise is too great to be expressed verbally.

amazed to the core

Highlights the depth of the feeling with the core metaphor.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely astounded" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely astounded" to express a strong feeling of surprise or amazement. For example, "I was absolutely astounded by the news of her promotion."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely astounded"?

Alternatives include "completely amazed", "utterly astonished", or "totally shocked", depending on the context and the intensity you want to convey.

Is "absolutely astounded" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "absolutely astounded" may sound overly dramatic in formal contexts. Consider using phrases like "greatly surprised" or "deeply impressed" instead.

What does "absolutely astounded" mean?

The phrase "absolutely astounded" means to be completely and utterly amazed or surprised by something. It indicates a high degree of astonishment.