What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stunned
Example
I was stunned when I heard the news of his sudden death. [stunned: adjective]
Example
The loud explosion stunned everyone in the room. [stunned: verb]
astonished
Example
I was astonished by the beauty of the sunset over the ocean. [astonished: adjective]
Example
He was astonished to find out that he had won the lottery. [astonished: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Astonished is more commonly used than stunned in everyday language. Astonished is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stunned is less common and often associated with negative events.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stunned and astonished?
Astonished is more formal than stunned. While astonished can be used in both formal and informal contexts, stunned is typically associated with a more informal tone.
