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flabbergastedextremely surprised and shocked; utterly astonished

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: extremely surprised and shocked; utterly astonished

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈflæbərɡæstɪd/

Example Sentences

  • The students were flabbergasted when their strict math teacher showed up to class in a superhero costume.
  • I was flabbergasted to receive a scholarship from a university I had never applied to.
  • Mom was flabbergasted when she found out that Dad had been secretly taking salsa dancing lessons.

flabbergasted

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈflæbərɡæstɪd/]

extremely surprised and shocked; utterly astonished

She was flabbergasted when her name was called as the winner.
💡 Concept

She was flabbergasted when her name was called as the winner.

Even a chess master gets flabbergasted when victory turns to disaster!
🎵 Rhyme

Even a chess master gets flabbergasted when victory turns to disaster!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈflæbərɡæstɪd/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈflæbəɡɑːstɪd/

🌳Etymology

Rootflabbergast
Suffix--ed

Origin

Created in 18th-century English, likely a playful combination of 'flabby' (drooping, loose) and 'aghast' (horrified, amazed). The word captures the physical expression of being so shocked that your jaw drops and your face goes slack.

Breakdown

flabby (drooping/loose) + aghast (shocked/amazed) - a blend word that describes the slack-jawed look of extreme surprise

🎵Rhyme

disastermasterfaster
disaster
master
faster

🔗Collocations

absolutely flabbergasted
flabbergasted by the news
left me flabbergasted
utterly flabbergasted
flabbergasted expression

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The students were flabbergasted when their strict math teacher showed up to class in a superhero costume.

I was flabbergasted to receive a scholarship from a university I had never applied to.

😄 Fun example

Mom was flabbergasted when she found out that Dad had been secretly taking salsa dancing lessons.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

astonishedastoundedstunneddumbfoundedshocked

Antonyms

unsurprisedexpectedprepared

Related

amazedbewilderedconfoundedspeechless

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