Dumbstruck: meaning, definitions and examples

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dumbstruck

 

[ ˈdʌmstrʌk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

state of shock

Dumbstruck describes a state of being unable to speak due to surprise or astonishment. When someone is dumbstruck, they are often left in a moment of stunned silence, unable to respond or react.

Synonyms

astonished, bewildered, flabbergasted, speechless

Examples of usage

  • She was dumbstruck by the unexpected news.
  • He stood there, dumbstruck, unable to find the words.
  • The audience was dumbstruck by the magician's final trick.

Translations

Translations of the word "dumbstruck" in other languages:

🇵🇹 estupefato

🇮🇳 हैरान

🇩🇪 verblüfft

🇮🇩 tertegun

🇺🇦 ошелешений

🇵🇱 osłupiały

🇯🇵 唖然とした

🇫🇷 stupéfait

🇪🇸 boquiabierto

🇹🇷 şaşkın

🇰🇷 어리둥절한

🇸🇦 مذهول

🇨🇿 ohromený

🇸🇰 ohromený

🇨🇳 目瞪口呆

🇸🇮 osupel

🇮🇸 stertur

🇰🇿 шошынған

🇬🇪 შოკირებული

🇦🇿 şok olmuş

🇲🇽 boquiabierto

Etymology

The word 'dumbstruck' is derived from the combination of two English words: 'dumb', which originally meant unable to speak, and 'struck', past participle of 'strike', meaning to hit or affect. The usage of 'dumb' in this context has evolved over time; it stems from the Old English 'dumb', meaning mute or silent, while 'struck' relates to being impacted by something suddenly. The term began to appear in English literature in the early 18th century, capturing the essence of being so overwhelmed or surprised that one is rendered temporarily incapable of speech. The vivid imagery of being 'struck' by an emotion makes the word particularly expressive. Today, it is commonly used in various contexts to describe moments of shock or disbelief.