What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stun
Example
The news of his sudden death stunned everyone. [stunned: past participle]
Example
The loud explosion stunned the crowd into silence. [stun: verb]
Example
Her performance on stage was so stunning that the audience gave her a standing ovation. [stunning: adjective]
stupefy
Example
The medication he took seemed to stupefy him, making it hard for him to concentrate. [stupefy: verb]
Example
The long and tedious lecture had a stupefying effect on the students. [stupefying: adjective]
Example
The news of her sudden resignation stupefied her colleagues, who were caught off guard. [stupefied: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stun is more commonly used in everyday language than stupefy. Stun is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while stupefy is more formal and less common.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stun and stupefy?
Stupefy is more formal than stun and is typically used in academic or technical contexts. Stun is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
