stun
4 synonyms for stun, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To knock someone senseless or make them lose awareness, often with a blow or shock.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use stun
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stun gun
stunned into silence
stun someone
Etymology
From Middle English stonen ("to astonish, numb"), likely via Anglo-Norman estoner, from a Latin root meaning "to thunder" — the same family as astonish and astound.
Full origin of stun →Frequently asked questions
What does “stun” mean?
The word “stun” means to knock someone senseless or make them lose awareness, often with a blow or shock. In plain terms, to knock senseless, or to shock someone with surprise.
How do you pronounce “stun”?
“Stun” is pronounced stuhn (/stʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “stun” in a sentence?
Here is “stun” used in a sentence: “The blow to the head stunned him for a moment.”
What part of speech is “stun”?
“Stun” is a verb.
Where does the word “stun” come from?
The word “stun” comes from Latin. From Middle English stonen ("to astonish, numb"), likely via Anglo-Norman estoner, from a Latin root meaning "to thunder" — the same family as astonish and astound.
Is “stun” a common word?
“Stun” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “stun” have?
“Stun” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to knock someone senseless or make them lose awareness, often with a blow or shock.
