Thesaurus results for TAKEN ABACK

taken aback

phrase

past participle of take aback

as in surprised

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected Everyone was taken aback by her sudden anger. The family seemed taken aback by the overwhelming generosity of their neighbors.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken aback

taken by surprise

Phrase

For these reasons, Atletico were in no way taken by surprise by Alvarez becoming the centre of attention, even before the transfer window opened.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Notable In his The Midterms, Actually newsletter, Astead Herndon looked at why both parties were taken by surprise by the data center backlash.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of taken by surprise

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.

Browse Nearby Words

taken

taken aback

taken account of

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Taken aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20aback. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of taken aback

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes