astonished

USAGE SUMMARY

"astonished" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express surprise at something unexpected. For example, "I was astonished when I saw the size of the mansion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) – the statute which ostensibly "legalises" everything that GCHQ & co do in cyberspace – was going through parliament in 1999, those of us who campaigned against it were astonished to find that no more than a handful of MPs were interested.

The Guardian - Tech

Wojciec Has's films, The Hourglass Sanatorium and later The Saragossa Manuscript, really astonished me.

The Guardian - Film

As a socialist and feminist, I'm astonished that anyone could have anything but solidarity for sex workers.

The Guardian - Opinion

I hear that they asked the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths for advice, but I'm astonished to hear that they felt they had no power to even suggest that they should change the storyline about the mother of the dead baby swapping him for the live baby, so they didn't even raise an objection to that.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their Uruguayan counterparts, six feet across the same room, were watching football with their feet up and were astonished to see anyone at that time of night, least of all three British travellers and their wildly grinning Syrian taxi driver.

The Guardian - Travel

With Arthur Miller, I have been astonished by the rawness of his writing, by his anger and humour.

The Guardian

"I was into my twenties when my mother astonished me by saying wistfully, 'I'd give anything to be 45 again.' Forty-five sounded like old age to me then.

The Guardian - Books

Onlookers were astonished, delighted, appalled, according to temperament and party.

The Guardian

I've been astonished to find after five full minutes' reflection that there is, actually, a rationale.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Although appalled by corruption, he cheerfully admits to granting interviews to journalists whose fathers were his friends (including, full disclosure, the editor who commissioned this piece), while denying others' requests, and looks astonished when I call this nepotism.

The Guardian

Many readers would be "astonished a FEMALE lawyer is leading his fight", the paper proposed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "astonished" to convey a strong sense of surprise and wonder, particularly when something is unexpected or remarkable. It's stronger than "surprised" but less negative than "shocked".

Common error

Avoid using "astonished" when a simpler term like "surprised" or "impressed" would suffice. Using a strong word like "astonished" for minor surprises can sound exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "astonished" is as an adjective, describing someone's state of being greatly surprised or amazed. It can also function as the past participle of the verb "astonish", as exemplified by Ludwig's ability to find many examples in this form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "astonished" is a versatile adjective and past participle used to express a significant level of surprise or amazement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. While "astonished" is generally neutral, it's essential to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in mundane situations where simpler terms like "surprised" or "impressed" would suffice. Remember, "astonished" carries more weight than "surprised" but less negative connotation than "shocked". Related phrases like "amazed", "astounded", and "flabbergasted" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the intended intensity and emotional tone. In short, using "astonished" effectively involves understanding its subtle differences from similar terms and reserving it for situations that genuinely warrant a strong expression of surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amazed

Implies a feeling of great surprise and wonder, often at something beautiful or impressive. It is slightly less intense than "astonished".

astounded

Suggests a feeling of overwhelming shock and surprise, often due to something unexpected or unbelievable. Very close in meaning to "astonished".

flabbergasted

Implies being utterly amazed and bewildered, to the point of being speechless. This is a more emphatic term than "astonished".

surprised

Indicates a feeling of mild shock or wonder due to an unexpected event. This is a more general term than "astonished".

dumbfounded

Indicates being so surprised that one is temporarily unable to speak. This emphasizes the inability to react due to surprise.

shocked

Suggests a strong feeling of surprise and distress, often due to something unpleasant or unexpected. Carries a more negative connotation than "astonished".

taken aback

Indicates being surprised and slightly disconcerted. Implies a momentary loss of composure.

startled

Implies a sudden, brief feeling of surprise, often due to a sudden noise or movement. This is less intense and more immediate than "astonished".

bewildered

Indicates being confused and surprised, often due to a lack of understanding. Emphasizes confusion more than surprise.

impressed

Suggests a feeling of admiration and respect, often mixed with surprise at someone's skill or achievement. Adds a layer of admiration absent in "astonished".

FAQs

How can I use "astonished" in a sentence?

You can use "astonished" to describe someone's reaction to something surprising, such as, "I was astonished by the size of the crowd" or "She looked astonished when she heard the news".

What can I say instead of "astonished"?

You can use alternatives like "amazed", "surprised", or "astounded" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "astonished" or "surprised"?

"Astonished" and "surprised" are both correct, but "astonished" implies a greater degree of surprise than "surprised". Use "astonished" when you want to emphasize the magnitude of the surprise.

What's the difference between "astonished" and "shocked"?

Both "astonished" and "shocked" describe strong surprise, but "shocked" often implies a negative or disturbing surprise, while "astonished" can be used for positive or neutral surprises.