English Meaning & Definitions
To cause someone to feel great surprise, astonishment, or shock.
- “The sheer scale of the architectural project flabbergasted the visiting engineers.”
- “I was absolutely flabbergasted when I discovered I had won the grand prize.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “flabbergast”.
First appearing in the late 18th century (circa 1772), the origin of 'flabbergast' is uncertain. It is likely a blend of the dialectal 'flapper' (to flutter or flap) and 'aghast' (struck with horror or amazement). The 'flabber-' prefix may also be related to 'flabby,' suggesting a state of being so shocked that one becomes weak or limp.
Imagine a 'flabby ghost' (flabber-gast) appearing suddenly, leaving you so shocked that you are left speechless.
Frequently Asked Questions About “flabbergast”
1. What is the meaning of “flabbergast” in English?
In English, flabbergast (verb) is defined as: “To cause someone to feel great surprise, astonishment, or shock.”.
2. How do you use “flabbergast” in a sentence?
“The sheer scale of the architectural project flabbergasted the visiting engineers.”
3. What are English synonyms of “flabbergast”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “flabbergast”?
First appearing in the late 18th century (circa 1772), the origin of 'flabbergast' is uncertain. It is likely a blend of the dialectal 'flapper' (to flutter or flap) and 'aghast' (struck with horror or amazement). The 'flabber-' prefix may also be related to 'flabby,' suggesting a state of being so shocked that one becomes weak or limp.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.