Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amaze contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of amaze are astonish, astound, flabbergast, and surprise. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When would astonish be a good substitute for amaze?

The synonyms astonish and amaze are sometimes interchangeable, but astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

In what contexts can astound take the place of amaze?

The words astound and amaze can be used in similar contexts, but astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

Where would flabbergast be a reasonable alternative to amaze?

The meanings of flabbergast and amaze largely overlap; however, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

When could surprise be used to replace amaze?

While the synonyms surprise and amaze are close in meaning, surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amaze The science behind the process continues to amaze me. Janine Henni, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025 Severe geomagnetic storm sparks stunning northern lights across US (photos) Don Pettit sees petite Dawn descending Monday, September 16, 2024: NASA astronaut Don Pettit has amazed us again with another outstanding photo. Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025 Ben Böhmer - Bloom Composer and producer Ben Böhmer amazes with Bloom. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 But other events, have amazed us with great beauty and displays of creative energy. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amaze 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amaze
Verb
  • In the end, Torres’ exhaustive devotion to detail proved effective in ways that surprised even her.
    Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
  • The final scene of the final episode of Cobra Kai is a pitch-perfect callback to a scene in the original 1984 Karate Kid movie where Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) surprises Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) by catching a fly with his chopsticks.
    Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Understandably, the incident astonished both experts and the flying public.
    Gary Stix, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Cohn was particularly astonished by the work of Ferenc Szöllősi (opens a new tab), a Hungarian mathematician who intentionally started with a suboptimal arrangement of spheres in dimension four and built on it to match the best existing estimate in dimension five (opens a new tab).
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • They were stunned by the incandescence of her skin.
    Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Father stunned when stranger pays his restaurant bill A dad having breakfast with his kids was amazed when a stranger out of nowhere took care of his bill.
    Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • An Orange County teacher arrested last week for asking children to show their genitals was interviewed by law enforcement regarding the disappearance of Madeline Soto, the 13-year-old girl whose killing last year shocked Central Florida.
    Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2025
  • While fans are still breaking down everything that happened on the stage, Stephen A. Smith offered his review of the show, which included a surprise appearance from tennis icon Serena Williams that shocked the world.
    Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The shocking roar of a vehicle’s engine can startle wildlife.
    Alexandra Owens, AFAR Media, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Jo explained that people with frequent views of auroras tended to draw more positive conclusions about them than those who may have been startled by the sight of them.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • That said, the rally in $Trump and $Melania tokens has astounded longtime market watchers.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
  • And although her character, the bitter and often sadistic Beth Dutton, may have tired of her surroundings, Reilly told Travel + Leisure ahead of the show's Sunday finale that she'll forever be astounded by the beauty of the show's setting in real life.
    Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near amaze

Cite this Entry

“Amaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amaze. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on amaze

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