astonishing

Astonishing is an adjective used to describe something that causes astonishment, a combination of surprise and wonder. It characterizes events, facts, or performances that exceed ordinary expectations and convey a sense of exceptional or awe-inspiring quality. The related noun is astonishment, and the adverb form is astonishingly.

Etymology and related forms: The word originates in Middle English as astonissen, from Old French estonner, with roots that broadly relate to striking or overwhelming someone with awe. The precise lineage is complex, but the core sense remains—something capable of leaving a person speechless or profoundly surprised.

Usage and nuance: In formal and informal writing, astonishment and astonishing are used to indicate strong impact or significance. They are more intense than simply “surprising” and are often employed for emphasis in journalism, literature, and analysis, as in “an astonishing discovery” or “an astonishing performance.” The term can carry a positive, neutral, or context-dependent tone, so writers choose it to reflect the degree of surprise and the perceived impressiveness of the subject. Synonyms include astounding, remarkable, and incredible, while antonyms may be mundane, unsurprising, or ordinary. The adverbial form, astonishingly, is used to describe the extent or manner of the surprising aspect.

See also: astonishment, astonished, astonish.