stunned

USAGE SUMMARY

"stunned" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is shocked or surprised by something. Example sentence: I was stunned to hear that my best friend had won the lottery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Film

Tech

Money

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Salmond was stunned by the unexpected concession, which seemed to have deprived him of the opportunity to attack Westminster for meddling in Scottish matters.

The Guardian

That result came after Deportivo had stunned Valencia.

The Guardian - Sport

Those findings are emphasised by two new polls last week that stunned Labour's leadership north and south of the border and give the SNP record leads in a Westminster vote in the wake of its Scottish leadership crisis.

The Guardian

"I was stunned, to be honest," she said.

The Guardian

Lombardi, himself a Jesuit, said he was stunned to have a member of the Society of Jesus as pontiff.

The Guardian

Messy downfall constantly predicted, but he stunned everyone by joining the cast of NYPD Blue and looking very much at home.

The Guardian - Film

"I thought about him all the time," says Alex. "I invited all my friends to a restaurant, did the whole tapping on the glass thing and said, 'I'm falling in love with a lifer.' There was this stunned silence, then everyone was asking, 'Who?

The Guardian

I went to the Future Music Festival last year and the Stone Roses were below them on the bill – a fact which stunned every other Brit person I told (the Roses are gods in the UK, while Bloc Party are, while admired, somewhat less celebrated).

The Guardian

Last month, HP stunned investors when it announced it was taking an $8.8bn charge against the $11.1bn it had paid for the British company it had bought from Lynch the year before, and said that over $5bn of that write-off stemmed from "accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and misrepresentations" – charges all denied by its ex-boss.

The Guardian - Tech

Tuesday's trip to the surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt, who have stunned the league with four wins in a row, might show whether this is the beginning of the dreaded third-season downturn, a mere blip, or indeed the equivalent of last year's low-point, a 2-1 defeat at Hannover in October – after which Dortmund ran away with the title.

The Guardian - Sport

My response of: 'We're a family of five, we are quite noisy but you won't be' was met with a stunned silence.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stunned" to effectively convey a sense of shock or surprise, particularly when someone is rendered speechless or unable to react immediately.

Common error

Avoid using "stunned" to describe minor surprises or mild astonishment; reserve it for situations involving significant shock or disbelief to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stunned" is as an adjective, describing a state of shock or disbelief. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it effectively conveys a state of being unable to act or respond due to surprise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

15%

Film

8%

Less common in

Tech

4%

Money

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "stunned" is a versatile adjective used to describe a state of shock or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English, noting its effectiveness in conveying a strong sense of surprise. With a "Very common" frequency, it appears extensively in diverse sources, primarily "News & Media". When writing, ensure that "stunned" is reserved for moments of genuine surprise, avoiding its overuse in less impactful situations. For variety, consider using alternatives like "astonished" or "shocked", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonished

Implies a great surprise or amazement.

shocked

Suggests a sudden and often unpleasant surprise.

amazed

Implies wonder and surprise.

dazed

Indicates a state of confusion and disorientation.

flabbergasted

Suggests being overcome with surprise and bewilderment.

dumbfounded

Indicates being speechless with astonishment.

stupefied

Implies being mentally dulled or numbed.

taken aback

Suggests being surprised and slightly disconcerted.

bowled over

Indicates being greatly impressed or overwhelmed.

speechless

Conveys an inability to speak due to strong emotion or surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "stunned" in a sentence?

You can use "stunned" to describe someone who is shocked or surprised by something. For example, "I was "stunned" to hear that my best friend had won the lottery."

What can I say instead of "stunned"?

You can use alternatives like "astonished", "shocked", or "amazed" depending on the context.

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

"Stunned" implies a greater level of shock or disbelief than "surprised". Use "surprised" for milder situations and ""stunned"" for more significant ones.

What's the difference between "stunned" and "dazed"?

"Stunned" indicates a state of shock or surprise, while "dazed" suggests confusion and disorientation, often as a result of a physical blow or emotional shock. They are not interchangeable in most contexts.