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astonishment definition

as·ton·ish·ment (-mənt)

noun

  1. the state of being astonished; great amazement
  2. anything that astonishes

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

astonishment Synonyms

astonishment

n.

surprise, amazement, bewilderment; see wonder 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

astonishment Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • express: Her every feature expressed astonishment, for she had drawn from the pyramid the word which was the key to her manuscript.

Preposition: at

  • sight: Astonishment at the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?

Adjective modifier

  • utter: However, to my utter astonishment, I am also asked to comment on the Holocaust!

Possessives

  • everyone: To everyone's astonishment, Snow White opened her eyes.

Preposition: among

  • nation: How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

Preposition: of

  • everybody: To the astonishment of everybody including her solicitor, the CPS have today added a further charge of section 5 - racial hatred.
astonishment usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

astonishment quotes

Dear Sir, your astonishment's odd: I am always about in the Quad. And that's why the tree Will continue to be Since observed by Yours faithfully,God. See Knox 476:22.

-Anonymous

We are survival machinesörobot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.

-Dawkins, Richard

The point is the seeingöthe grace beyond recognition, the ways of the bird rising, unnamed, unknown, beyond the range of language, beyond its noun. Eyes open on growing, flying, happening, and go on opening. Manifold, the world dawns on unrecognizing, realizing eyes. Amazement is the thing. Not love, but the astonishment of loving.

-Reid, Alastair

astonishment quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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astonishment. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

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