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Definitions

taken aback

ADJECTIVE

abashed

Synonyms

STRONG

bewildered bugged chagrined confounded confused crushed discombobulated disconcerted embarrassed fazed fuddled humbled humiliated mortified rattled shamed

WEAK

ashamed in a tizzy

Antonyms

STRONG

clear oriented understanding

WEAK

at ease composed emboldened proud reassured

ADJECTIVE

bewildered

Synonyms

STRONGEST

astonished awed baffled befuddled dazed mystified perplexed puzzled rattled shocked startled stunned surprised

STRONG

addled appalled astounded dazzled disconcerted dizzy dumbfounded flabbergasted floored flustered lost misled muddled reeling staggered stumped stupefied thrown

WEAK

agape aghast agog awe-struck bowled over dumbstruck flipped-out giddy in a dither punchy shook-up speechless thunderstruck uncertain unglued

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aware

STRONG

clear

WEAK

oriented understanding

ADJECTIVE

confused

Synonyms

STRONGEST

baffled befuddled bewildered dazed disorganized distracted muddled perplexed perturbed puzzled

STRONG

abashed addled discombobulated disconcerted flummoxed flustered gone misled nonplussed stumped thrown unscrewed unzipped woolly

WEAK

at a loss at sea at sixes and sevens come apart fouled-up glassy-eyed mixed up not with it out to lunch punch-drunk punchy screwy shook-up shot to pieces slaphappy spaced out thrown off balance unglued

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clear

STRONG

composed

WEAK

methodical ordered organized oriented separated systematic understanding

ADJECTIVE

disconcerted

Synonyms

STRONG

annoyed bewildered distracted disturbed embarrassed fazed flustered nonplussed perturbed rattled ruffled thrown troubled unsettled unzipped upset

WEAK

caught off balance come apart in botheration messed-up mixed-up out of countenance psyched-out shook-up spaced-out unglued

Antonyms

STRONG

happy settled

WEAK

calm composed concerted soothed unworried

ADJECTIVE

dumbfounded

Synonyms

STRONG

amazed astonished bamboozled beat bewildered buffaloed confounded dismayed flabbergasted floored knocked licked nonplused overcome overwhelmed puzzled shocked staggered startled stuck stumped stunned surprised thrown

WEAK

agape aghast blown-away bowled over breathless dumb speechless thunderstruck

Antonyms

STRONG

aware

WEAK

expectant unsurprised

ADJECTIVE

muddle-headed

Synonyms

WEAK

abashed addled addlepated at a loss at sea at sixes and sevens baffled befuddled bewildered come apart confounded confusional dazed discombobulated disconcerted disorganized distracted flummoxed flustered fouled-up glassy-eyed gone misled mixed up muddled nonplussed not with it out to lunch perplexed perturbed punch-drunk punchy puzzled screwy shook-up shot to pieces slaphappy spaced out stumped thrown thrown off balance turbid unglued unscrewed unzipped

ADJECTIVE

stunned

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amazed astonished bewildered confused dismayed floored overwhelmed shocked speechless startled surprised

STRONG

astounded confounded dumbfounded flabbergasted frozen numb overcome stumped stupefied

WEAK

aghast blown-away bowled over breathless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clear oriented understanding

ADJECTIVE

stupefied

Synonyms

STRONG

amazed astonished astounded bewildered confounded confused dismayed dumbfounded flabbergasted floored frozen numb overcome overwhelmed puzzled shocked startled stumped stunned surprised

WEAK

blown-away bowled over breathless speechless

Antonyms

STRONG

aware clear oriented understanding unsurprised

ADJECTIVE

surprised

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amazed startled

Antonyms

WEAK

aware calm poised unsurprised

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The scourge of the royals recently has been Andrew Lownie, author of the book that revealed so much Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and he was taken aback by a "brilliant speech".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Smart said she was a little taken aback when she first learned how things would pan out for aging comic Deborah Vance and her mentee Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Logan says he was taken aback by the offer and promptly alerted his former employers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The man was clearly taken aback, some of the other patrons chuckling in surprise, the Dodger pulse of this town clearly resonating in a completely unusual fashion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

Gauguin is taken aback by what he sees as Vincent’s disorderliness, both in painting and in life.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

taken aback

Example Sentences

Related Words