stunning
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.extremely beautiful or attractive.
adj.exceptionally attractive or aesthetically pleasing. Often used in informal or semi-formal contexts to express high praise.
Simple“The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely stunning.”
In context“The actress made a stunning entrance in a floor-length silk gown that immediately captured the attention of every photographer in the room.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.very surprising or shocking.
adj.causing great surprise or disbelief; shocking in its intensity or unexpectedness.
Simple“The team's stunning defeat in the final minutes left the fans in silence.”
In context“The researchers published a stunning report revealing that the environmental damage was far more extensive than previously estimated by the government.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.the act of making a person or animal unconscious or unable to move.
v.the present participle or gerund of 'stun', referring to the act of rendering a person or animal insensible or motionless.
Simple“The police used a device for stunning the suspect without causing permanent injury.”
In context“The facility implemented new humane protocols for stunning livestock to ensure the animals were completely insensible before the next stage of the process.”
UsageOften used in the context of hunting, law enforcement, or food production.
Synonymsdazingparalyzing - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the physical act of hitting or shocking someone so they cannot think or move.
n.the action of rendering someone or something unconscious or dazed, typically through a physical blow or electric shock.
Simple“The stunning of the fish is done quickly to prevent any suffering.”
In context“Effective stunning requires precise application of force to the cranial region to ensure immediate loss of consciousness.”
Synonyms
“Chelsea will be interesting under Xabi Alonso, who has been allowed to add players to fit into the 3-4-2-1 he used to such stunning effect at Bayer Leverkusen.”
“The Danish Superliga club’s coaching staff, including Michael Essien, are preparing for the new campaign, the stunning scenery par for the course.”
From Middle English stunnyng, stunnynge, stounyng, equivalent to stun + -ing.
From Middle English stunnyng, stonyng (also stoniynge, stonyynge), equivalent to stun + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.