stun

1 of 2

verb

ˈstən How to pronounce stun (audio)
stunned; stunning
Synonyms of stunnext

transitive verb

1
: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow : daze
2
: to shock with noise
3
: to overcome especially with paralyzing astonishment or disbelief

stun

2 of 2

noun

: the effect of something that stuns : shock

Synonyms of stun

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Verb

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Examples of stun in a Sentence

Verb The angry criticism stunned them. His old friends were stunned at his success. She sat in stunned disbelief. There was a stunned expression on her face. weapons that can stun people temporarily
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
For those who didn't feel like giving the big UMass-Rutgers game Thursday night your time and effort, the Minutemen stunned Greg Schiano's group, 37-21, snapping a 16-game losing streak to FBS teams. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The Mafia guy's methods — smashing skulls, breaking bones with a baseball bat, putting guns into mouths — stun his partner. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 The pair's decision to relocate to Harry's home country after spending six years in California stunned both sides of the Atlantic. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 The loss stunned an Alabama team that hadn’t lost in more than fifteen months. — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stun

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English stonen, stunen, from Anglo-French estoner — more at astonish

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stun was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing stun

Rhymes for stun

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Browse Nearby Words

stums
stun
Stundism
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Cite this Entry

“Stun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stun. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stun

verb
ˈstən
stunned; stunning
1
: to make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow
2
: to overcome with astonishment or disbelief
stunned by the news
stun noun

Medical Definition

stun

transitive verb
ˈstən How to pronounce stun (audio)
stunned; stunning
: to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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