flabbergasted — extremely 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.

Even a chess master gets flabbergasted when victory turns to disaster!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
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
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.