French word

abasourdir

Pronunciation

IPA/abazuʁdiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbstun

Example

La nouvelle l'abasourdit.

The news stunned him.

Illustration for abasourdir (stun)

More examples

Le comportement du politicien a abasourdi le public.

The politician's behavior stunned the public.

Core concept

A shock that seems to deafen the mind and leaves someone speechless or disoriented.

Common phrases

  • abasourdir quelqu'un

    stun someone

  • abasourdir tout le monde

    stun everyone

Similar words

étonner: To amaze someone with an unexpected fact or event.
surprendre: To catch someone by surprise without warning.

Definition in French

Provoquer chez quelqu'un une surprise ou un choc si fort qu'il en reste sans voix ou désorienté.

Word origin

French abasourdir developed from Old French assourdir, "to deafen," with a- helping extend the physical sense to mental shock.

Usage tips

  • Abasourdir is transitive and takes a direct object, as in "La nouvelle l'abasourdit," with l' rather than lui.

Other meanings

  • astoundverb
  • dumbfoundverb

Related words

  • abasourdistunnedadjective
  • abasourdissantstunningadjective

Word lists with this word